Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape Photography Locations => Topic started by: SeanBK on August 25, 2013, 02:00:28 pm

Title: White Sands National park in Oct
Post by: SeanBK on August 25, 2013, 02:00:28 pm
Any suggestions, thoughts? or even warnings??
Title: Re: White Sands National park in Oct
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 25, 2013, 02:40:56 pm
Be sure to check on what days the park is closed. When I was there, it happened on two days every week, on days that were reserved for Air Force flyovers. We were there in the spring, and we were fortunate in that the normally "closed" days were cancelled for some reason, so we got into the park each day we were in the vicinity (including one sand storm, which was an exciting experience -- left lots of dust spots on my sensor, even though I never changed lenses. Didn't discover that until I got home a few weeks later.)
Title: Re: White Sands National park in Oct
Post by: SeanBK on August 25, 2013, 05:30:07 pm
Thanx. Nice images of W.S.N.Park on your website & impressive bio.
Title: Re: White Sands National park in Oct
Post by: francois on August 26, 2013, 03:41:44 am
As Eric mentioned, check out for park closures. Sometimes it's just a couple of hours and sometimes it's longer. Weather can also be a concern… Thunderstorms are very violent and you don't want to be in the open. Other than that, it's a very special park with great photographic opportunities. It's always a pleasure to return there.

Have fun.
Title: Re: White Sands National park in Oct
Post by: dspeed on August 27, 2013, 05:06:35 pm

Don't forget sunscreen and water. The reflected light/heat must be experienced.  I prefer winter.

The thunderstorms are a treat.

You might try to get on one of the Lake Lucero tours (the white gypsum 'sand' comes from Lake Lucero).  You might see some exotic game.
Title: Re: White Sands National park in Oct
Post by: BJL on August 27, 2013, 08:17:46 pm
Camping overnight adds some great dusk and dawn opportunities, and the camp sites are wonderfully isolated from each other ... but it was very cold at night when I was there, so check the details for your dates and pack for that!
Title: Re: White Sands National park in Oct
Post by: francois on August 28, 2013, 04:41:45 am
…You might try to get on one of the Lake Lucero tours…

Lake Lucero is an excellent suggestion! Info (http://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/lake-lucero-tours.htm) here!
Title: Re: White Sands National park in Oct
Post by: Ian99 on August 28, 2013, 05:33:16 pm
Note that the tour of the Trinity Site scheduled for October 5, 2013 has been cancelled and the next one is on April 5, 2014.
Title: Re: White Sands National park in Oct
Post by: arlon on September 11, 2013, 10:27:31 am
The do special late night stuff on full moon nights. Normally closes around sundown. If you wan some late night photography, it would have to be on the full moon when they are open later or back pack camping. Alamogordo is one of my favorite places to stay.

Cloudcroft/Sunspot is close and very scenic all year.
Three rivers petroglyph site is 45 min. north and just an amazing place.
Nice State park just south of Alamogordo with some pretty canyons to hike through.
Franklin Mountains SP in El Paso has some spectacular views and hiking trails.
Hueco Tanks just west of El Paso is a great little park but call before you go. They only allow a certain number in at any one time.

They also do a really nice hot air balloon festival (week after next I believe) where they do a lot of launchings from white sands and from Alamogordo..