White Sands,
a sparkling reminder of the past.
In the ancient past starting around the Paleozoic era part of New Mexico was submerged under the sea. As time went one and the sea receded the deposit of gypsum was left behind. Now being the largest gypsum deposit in the world it forms the White Sands national monument that sprawls across just over three square miles. Granting us a stunning and unique national park perfect for a trip, and for unique photos.
A small grove of yuccas grow in the valley between the dunes of gypsum. Available in all sizes, order name WS-003
In the constant barrage of growns a small pink flower still blooms in the middle of the dunes. A colorful firework of color within the sea of white. Available in all sizes, order name WS-004
Seeds frame both the white sea and blue skies. A hardy plant ready to spread hardy seedlings out to grow in White Sands. Available in all sizes, order name WS-005
A yucca alone from the rest of the groove falls into shadows as sun starts to set creating highs of bright and dark areas. Available in all sizes, order name WS-006
A postcard photograph. Plants growing strong in the foreground, a yucca right between the mountains, sparkling gypsum, and a fine grain noise from the gypsum flying from the noise. Available in all sizes, order name WS-011
An opened pod from the yucca stalk is now empty as the winds carry the seeds away to sprout and grow somewhere else expanding the life within the dunes. Available in all sizes, order name WS-015
A dead yucca arches over creating a different shape as a stalk of new life grows just in front of it. Available in all sizes, order name WS-016
Water naturally flows to the low points, and so the plants grow within the low points where the rain water collects. Available in all sizes, order name WS-018
Life persists. Even though it’s rough and slightly farther away a yucca expands the radius of flora claiming more land. Available in all sizes, order name WS-019
A yucca comes just into view as the crest of the dune falls away along the trek into the unkown areas of white sand. Available in all sizes, order name WS-021
A new bush starts to grow trying to get tall while the gypsum piles up trying to bury the new growth. Available in all sizes, order name WS-033
A flowering yucca stranding tall. The leaves just breaking the dune of the background as the flower stalk itself breaks free towards the blue sky. Available in all sizes, order name WS-037
A dip on the dune itself creates a second shadow as the flora pushes outward trying to claim more land. Available in all sizes, order name WS-044
On top of a dune the white sands stretch out for miles with dips giving a hint at the length one can travel. Available in all sizes, order name WS-007
Little hills of gypsum forms on the dunes as the dune lowers to create a shelter for the plants between the windswept tops. Available in all sizes, order name WS-008
A clump of gypsum forms a hill creating a smooth section of land between all of the windswept ripples. Available in all sizes, order name WS-009
As the roots from the plants help hold the plateau together. The sea of white broken by the seeds scattered across the ground creating a dusting of color. Available in all sizes, order name WS-014
The ripples of the sand makes a faint illusion of being pushed up by water. A slight call back to the sea of old. Available in all sizes, order name WS-020
The rippling sand creates faint trails to pocket oases of flora life. Available in all sizes, order name WS-022
Ribbons of dunes lead off into the distance as the mountains get a hint of whiteness from the gypsum. Available in all sizes, order name WS-023
The ridges formed by the plants breaking the steady winds creates ripples reminiscent of waves of the long gone sea. Available in all sizes, order name WS-024
A lone plant grows away from the crowd leading the charge of expanding the circle of life and changing the landscape. Available in all sizes, order name WS-026
Rain binds the grains of sand together. After drying out the gypsum starts to flake apart in fine layers. Available in all sizes, order name WS-031
In the foreground little tracks from a wild animal linger as the wind fades away. The animal heading towards the next oasis of plants to forage for more food. Off in the distance a flicker of another traveler resting on top of the dune, and yet even farther away the blue of the mountains change white with the gypsum flying in the air. Available in all sizes, order name WS-032
A river of life shows where the rain water collects after the storms that pass through. The sweeping lines of flowing water juxtaposing themselves across the windswept lines. Available in all sizes, order name WS-038
Once the sun starts to set the long shadows create a large emphases on each and every ridge creating a dizzying site that seems to move on it’s on. Available in all sizes, order name WS-045
The gypsum in the air sparkles as it goes over the closest ridge creating a haze that matches the haze across the mountains. Available in all sizes, order name WS-046
Each shadow highlights another dune to go to, and another area to explore limited only by the setting of the sun. Available in all sizes, order name WS-042
A single post proffers a silent guide to those who lose themselves among the dunes hinting at the way back to the entrance, and safety. Available in all sizes, order name WS-047
The dune gently slopes against itself gently leading to the low point where hints of life start to sprout. Available in all sizes, order name WS-043
The ridges of sand change to reflect changing area. From uninterrupted sand to plant to going back up the dune. Each ridge revealing more what is going around besides the blowing of the wind. WS-048
The hint of sun flare actually casts almost a blue hint to the sands. A delicate call back to the waters the land craves. Available in all sizes, order name WS-049
A gentle dune dips in and out. The shadows from setting sun helping to reveal the full contours of the dune the line of the dune to help create an implied river. Available in all sizes, order name WS-050a
A gentle dune dips in and out. The shadows from setting sun helping to reveal the full contours of the dune. The contour of the dune creating a mirror to the low curve of the main dune. Available in all sizes, order name WS-050b
A gentle curve of footsteps blurred in the windstorm each step breaking the line and curves made naturally by the wind. Available in all sizes, order name WS-051
Even with the wind steadily blowing, keep an eye out and even the natural patterns create a break in the patterns. Available in all sizes, order name WS-052
The lines in the sand push the eyes to the shadows in the dunes. Then the shadows of the dunes gently nudge the eye to the break in the mountains. Available in all sizes, order name WS-053
A small bank of storm clouds lower then the rest of the clouds reach just the right angle to reflect the sunlight bright enough to fight with the sand banks for the spotlight. Available in all sizes, order name WS-054
A series of foot prints starting at the top left veering off below the dune and reappearing on the right. Each step adding a hint of the full depth. Available in all sizes, order name WS-056
The ripples in the land grow ever closer together from foreground, to the dune on the left, to the valley on the right. merging to a solid effect to the ridges behind it. Available in all sizes, order name WS-057
At the crest of the dune the white sand plunges into shadow. the blowing grains help carry shafts of light into shadows. As the flowing grains create lines of light in the shadows. Though the same grains highlighting the shadows also create the grainy noise within the sky and background. Available in all sizes, order name WS-058
A twig blown about coated with a fine layer of gypsum. creating a white line against the white background. Available in all sizes, order name WS-010
Not only humans, but dogs and horses come and explore the vast expanse. A couple of paw prints leaving a reminder of the life that’s just unseen. Available in all sizes, order name WS-012
Stalks arranged carefully by the ant hill. A small little detail that helps one find the life hiding from the midday sun. Available in all sizes, order name WS-017
After enduring life the gypsum laden winds will start stripping the wood back down into it’s base elements. Turning into nutrients to support the next wave of life. Available in all sizes, order name WS-013
Some dried fruit from yucca snapped off and broken away among a violent wind storm now lays among the sands slowly being buried. Available in all sizes, order name WS-025
Just peeking out from the side of the dune a group of plants comes into view with two bold plants growing above the rest. Available in all sizes, order name WS-027
A pocket of sand collapses within itself creating an indent upon the side of the dune marking it as being different from the rest. Available in all sizes, order name WS-028
A wild mouse borrowing into the depths of the gypsum to sleep during the hot daylight hours. Getting ready to come out at dusk to forage for another night. Available in all sizes, order name WS-029
A dead plant defiantly stays about the sands that attempt to bury with to be forgotten among the dunes. Available in all sizes, order name WS-030
On top of a dune a former king of a bush now a sticks in defiantly in the air against the sand slowly burying the majesty. Available in all sizes, order name WS-034
A lone twig stands out with hints of shredded bark stripped from it around as the true depths of the sand fade away. Available in all sizes, order name WS-035a
By stripping away the color the depth of sands becomes even more emphasized giving even greeter depth to the sand. Available in all sizes, order name WS-035b
A couple stems from another plant got caught along the bramble of a different plant showing some hints of life in the otherwise desolate landscape. Available in all sizes, order name WS-036
As the wind whips the stalks around it draws circles in the sand around itself. Creating curved lines forming almost perfect circles. Available in all sizes, order name WS-039
A doorway to the home of a wild animal. The cool shadows keeping them comfortable during the hot summer days. Available in all sizes, order name WS-040
With roots holding the gypsum in place an animal craved out a home to shelter in. The plants creating a decorative flourish to decorate the roof of the house. Available in all sizes, order name WS-041
A brush growing sturdy in the White Sands. In defiance of the lack of water. Available in all sizes, order name WS-001