The only thing more serene than a pristine desert landscape is a desert landscape at night. Ironically the desert at night is a little less serene for its inhabitants. The cooler temperatures are preferred by the many nocturnal creatures calling the desert home. For visitors like myself there is no better time to witness the desert than under a full moon. You’d be surprised how bright the moon will light the landscape. In the photo below I actually had to notch the brightness down a bit so you’d know it was a night photo. To the naked eye (once adjusted to the dark) the landscape is bright and detailed. The only difference other than the lack of warm sunlight is the foot prints of the desert inhabitants are a little fresher. I kept wondering if I would run into a coyote or fox on my night hike, but following their fresh trails I was left to wonder where they might be in the infinite dunes of White Sands. I look forward to the next time I get to share another night hike with the creatures that call White Sands home.
Moonlit Dunes - White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
Photo details:
Canon 1Ds Mark III, TS-E24mm f/3.5L, f/10, 2 min 20 sec, ISO 200,
[tags]photography, landscape, nature, fine art, stock photo, New Mexico, White Sands National Monument, desert[/tags]