Plants and Dunes – White Sands

“Fortune favors the prepared mind” is a quote that has stuck with me since grade school, and it perfectly encapsulates my approach to landscape photography. Even though the afternoons and evenings weren’t ideal for taking pictures, I spent hours exploring the dunes, scouting for the best spots, and marking them on my map.

At dawn, I left the warmth of my car and braved the biting cold to reach this location. As the sky transitioned to blue hour, the clouds began to take shape, hinting at a potentially stunning sunrise. The previous night’s winds had smoothed the dunes, erasing any traces of footprints. I found the perfect composition at the base of a valley, with a field of Yucca plants stretching out before me.

Knowing exactly where the sun would rise, I positioned myself to capture a breathtaking sun star through one of the Yucca plants. As the landscape was bathed in a golden glow, the white sands shimmered, and the sky burst into a symphony of colors. It was a magical moment that I was ready to seize, thanks to careful preparation and a little bit of luck.