Every workshop has its own personality.
Some weeks, the skies open up and the Milky Way steals the show. Other weeks, Mother Nature reminds us that photography is about adapting, slowing down, and finding beauty in whatever she gives us.
This year’s White Sands Dreamscapes was definitely the latter…and honestly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Day 1: Into the White Abyss
There’s something very surreal about stepping into White Sands National Park. As the sun sinks lower, the endless dunes begin to glow and reflect the colors of the sky, and before long you’re surrounded by nothing but soft curves of gypsum.
We spent our first evening working with lens compression and longer focal lengths, looking for ways to simplify the landscape and make the dunes feel even more endless.
One of my favorite memories from the trip wasn’t even photography related….
Off in the distance, a group of young people had hauled sand sleds into the dunes for one last ride before sunset. One guy suddenly broke into Randy Travis’ Forever and Ever, Amen, and his voice echoed across the white dunes like we were sitting in our own private concert.
As if that wasn’t enough entertainment, we also watched a couple from New England show up dressed head-to-toe in cowboy hats, boots, and western wear for an impromptu photo session. Seeing cowboy attire in the middle of New Mexico’s white gypsum dunes wasn’t something I had on my bingo card, but somehow… it worked.
After the spectacular sunset, we wandered a few dunes farther from the entrance and settled in for the night.
The Milky Way never fully revealed itself, but the stars still peeked through the clouds enough to create beautiful moments. Standing out there after hours with no one else around reminded us that sometimes the experience itself is worth more than the photograph.
Day 2: Looking Closer
The next morning started with an editing session. It’s always fun watching everyone’s images come to life on the screen and seeing how differently each photographer interprets the exact same scene.
That evening we returned to the dunes, but this time with a completely different mindset. Instead of photographing the grand landscape, we slowed down and focused on the details.
The yuccas were our subjects, and we experimented with wide-angle lenses, getting close enough to exaggerate their size against the sweeping dunes and dramatic sky.
Day 3: Mountains, Trestles, and Finally… Stars
After another editing session, we traded white dunes for cool mountain air and made our way to Cloudcroft.
Pizza, local shops, and a slower afternoon made for a nice change of pace before heading to the historic Mexican Canyon Train Trestle for sunset and blue hour.
The dramatic bridge, mountain scenery, and fading light gave us plenty to photograph before darkness finally settled in.
Then we headed back down the mountain toward one final location. The Milky Way emerged, stretching across the desert exactly as we’d been hoping. We photographed until the early hours of the morning, squeezing every minute out of the darkness before the galactic core drifted toward the glow of El Paso on the horizon.
It was the perfect ending to a week that constantly reminded us to stay flexible.
More Than Dreamscapes
One thing I hope every participant took away from this trip is that dreamscapes don’t always have to include the Milky Way.
Sometimes they’re found in soft evening light on white dunes. Sometimes they’re hidden inside the texture of a single yucca. Sometimes they’re found in unexpected music drifting across the desert, a couple dressed like cowboys, or simply standing in complete silence surrounded by miles of white sand.
Photography isn’t about forcing the conditions you want…It’s about finding beauty in the conditions you’re given.
Looking Ahead
I’m excited to say that White Sands Dreamscapes is returning in 2027, and spots are already beginning to fill.
If photographing glowing white dunes, exploring Cloudcroft, learning new editing techniques, and spending time under some of the Southwest’s most unique landscapes sounds like your kind of adventure, I’d love to have you join us.
This one sells out quick…be sure to grab your spot before its gone!