Dave, You have brought the essence of this cactus to us with this image. I love the degree of abstraction and the confusion of shapes. That deceptively soft coloration is such a contrast to the sharp barb of the plant, though. Wonderful.
Jenene
How appropriate that the name of the location also could be used to describe the image - this is a stunning image and does give the feeling one might feel at the gates of hell.
One of the most energetic images I've ever seen of a cactus. And I know cactus!!!! (What does "reversed mode" mean -- did you take off your lens, turn it around, and hold it in place with your hand?) Is that what caused the gauzy, multiple-image feeling here?