Sand ripples light up in the first warm rays in this shot. Sunrise at Mesquite Dunes in Death Valley National Park. Sunrise in dunes is a challenge. You have only minutes to capture the best light, so before sunrise you need to locate that perfect composition and hope that you had not walked and created foot steps in the sand! When it works though, its a magical experience as the warm sun hits you and lights up the ripples in the sand.