Shooting the Snow-like Sands!

This week I'm shooting at the amazing Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.  The beautiful, snow-like sand dunes are made of gypsum crystals, making them white in color-stunning!  The first day in Bosque I was rewarded with a spectacular twilight sky, with reds and orange lighting the sky. Watching and listening to the sandhill cranes and geese take off for first flight at sunrise is a sight to behold! Several of these moments reminded me of  M. C. Escher's art - living, wildlife tessellations!  Jennifer

Click on images for larger view. 

Sandhill Crane at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico.  f/6.3, 1/3200 second, ISO 5000, EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTat 560 mm. Canon EOS-1D X

SANDHILL CRANE AT BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/6.3, 1/2500 SECOND, ISO 5000, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXTAT 420 MM. Canon EOS-1D X

Snow Geese, BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/6.3, 1/2000 SECOND, ISO 5000, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXTAT 560 MM. Canon EOS-1D X

Snow Geese, BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/11, 1/500 SECOND, ISO 5000, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXTAT 412 MM. Canon EOS-1D X

Sandhill Cranes, BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/8 1/6400 SECOND, ISO 1600, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXT plus additional  1.4 tele at 784 mm. Canon EOS-1D X

SANDHILL CRANE AT BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN ANTONIO, NEW MEXICO.  F/9, 1/1000 SECOND, ISO 400, EF200-400MM F/4L IS USM EXTAT 560 MM. Canon EOS-1D X

WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NM AT sunrise.  F/16, 1/10 SECONDS, ISO 100, EF24-70MM F/2.8L II USM AT 35mm.  CANON EOS 5D MARK III

SOAPTREE YUCCA, WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NM AT TWILIGHT.  F/11, .4 SECONDS, ISO 160, EF24-70MM F/2.8L II USM AT 24MM. CANON EOS 5D MARK III

SOAPTREE YUCCA, WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NM AT TWILIGHT.  F/16, 15 SECONDS, ISO 100, EF24-70MM F/2.8L II USM AT 24MM. CANON EOS 5D MARK III

shooting at White Sands in the early morning

WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NM.  F/16, 2 SECONDS, ISO 100, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16 mm, Canon EOS 5D Mark III


Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque_del_apache/

White Sands
http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm