Location: White Sands National Monument, somewhere everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. A place where people of all ages can once again feel like child. A magical place that has something for everyone, and is an ideal vacation spot for families. However, White Sands is (in my opinion) also one of the top landscape photography spots in the entire world. Not many places allow a photographer to shoot at just about any time of the day, morning, noon and evening. The compositions are endless, and your imagination will be your best tool.

Best Times of the Year to Visit: September through May is ideal for visiting White Sands. September through November brings cooler weather although still very warm and even hot at mid-day, mornings will be cool and layers and gloves would be encouraged, and this is definitely more relevant the closer you get to November where light snow fall is often a good possibility, although any accumulation will usually be gone by afternoon. December through February brings very cold mornings so bring heavy jackets with layers underneath, gloves will be a must. Afternoons can still be warm even in January, so don't forget water. Evenings will be cool but very pleasant unless there happens to be a winter storm passing through. March through May brings back the warm weather and darn right HOT the closer you get to May. Mornings may still be cool so layers and gloves are recommended. Do not forget water, especially if you plan on going out on a long hike. Early spring can bring high winds and very dusty conditions, so sand protection for your eyes and camera would be a good idea. Although wind can be annoying it also creates beautiful fresh sand patterns, early morning shoots would be my recommendation for early to late spring to avoid the wind and take advantage of the fresh sand patterns and cool weather. June through August is the hottest time of the year at White Sands with temperatures reaching 115F. If you go at this time of year, mornings would most definitely be the best time to be there. Afternoons would be almost unbearable, but for some the intense heat might be something to experience. Dig a hole and bury yourself in the white gypsum to cool off ļ

Photography Locations: There really are no bad areas to shoot at White Sands. Drive in, hike out and shoot away. There are designated nature trails toward the entrance and couple more scenic trails in the middle. If it is your first time visiting a guided hike might be the way to go. If you go by yourself a compass will be handy especially if you hike further out and have to come back in the dark. Gates are locked at indicated times, so don't think there will be someone there to let you out, you will have to spend the night in your car. Early morning shoots before the park officially opens can be possible by calling the Ranger Station a few days in advance.

Please see the official National park Website for further details and directions http://www.nps.gov/whsa/

Photography Tips: A circular polarizer is a great tool for white sands especially for mid-day shots. If shooting digitally and you are familiar with blending techniques, I would recommend shooting with a tripod and bracketing at all times of the day because of the high dynamic range. If you are not familiar with digital blending and prefer using filters, a good set of graduated ND filters would be a must. Bring an assortment of lenses from super wide angle to super telephoto, leading lines, curves, shadows, textures, distant mountains, wildlife, just about anything a photographer could want can be found at White Sands. As far as compositions go, your imagination is the key. Winter time lends itself well to B&W photography because of the long shadows casts at just about any time of the day. The further you hike the more fresh undisturbed sand you will find, along with greater abundance of wildlife.


White Sands is a photographers dream, get there early, stay late and enjoy the beauty; you won't ever forget the experience.

Allen Maestas www.Photosofnewmexico.com

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