Maybe it’s my art director background, but ‘white’ sand beaches never really seem to deliver on the ‘white’. Beautiful, yes, but not white. So I was a little skeptical about a ‘white sand desert’, until I saw this one. Take it from me, this sand is WHITE. And full of colour, all at the same time.
I had never heard of White Sands National Monument until I went searching for a photography workshop to give my hubby as a gift for his 50th birthday. The plan was to head to the Southwestern US, and my research led me to Derek Von Briesen’s website. As I started looking through his galleries, I couldn’t believe the photos he had taken of these incredible white dunes. So I immediately asked him where he shot them.
White Sands National Monument was the response, a small state park in New Mexico, about 3 hours or so south of Albuquerque. Probably not on most people’s typical tourist itinerary, but when something this spectacular exists, you plan your trip around it. At least I do.
The destination more than justified the detour. In fact, there was almost too much to take in with only 2 days to visit and so much to try to capture: abstract, fluid shapes against matte blue backgrounds of cloudless skies, alien cacti growing where no living plant should thrive yet producing 7-foot high stalks, and the ever-changing colours of the dunes. One minute they looked like frozen yogurt, crystals glistening under the sinking sun’s rays; another minute they were pink cotton candy. If sunset wasn’t magical enough, the following morning’s sunrise took it to another level. We were the only people in the park at 6am as the sun cleared the horizon, painting the dunes in shades of lavender and pink, gradually revealing distant blue mountains tipped with sunlight in the background, as the gypsum dunes sparkled in the rising sun.
Worth the detour? Absolutely.
Did White Sands deliver on its ‘white’ promise. No.
Because if the definition of white is ‘colourless’, that word just doesn’t do justice to the colourful chameleon that is White Sands.
TIP: To get into the park for sunrise, purchase a special photography permit that allows you into the park before it opens to the public. Well worth the money AND the early alarm! To see more photos, check out our Photo Gallery.
Wonderful photos. I like the ripples in the sand and the play between light and shadows in the picture.
It was definitely worth getting up at the crack of dawn, Michele!
No matter how many times I look at these, they always amaze me.
"We were the only people in the park at 6am as the sun cleared the horizon…" Now why does that NOT surprise me?
Pictures look awesome, btw.
When we’re on a mission, we’re on a mission! The park ranger actually had to open the gate for us at 5am, (and close it after us, so we knew we were the only ones there that early!)