Sotol Overlook
This is one of the most popular spots in the park. It is named after the sotol plant, one of which is in the center of the foreground. There are thousands more scattered over the hill beyond.
The photograph was made using infrared light, which gives a different set of tones from normal visible light photography. In particular, green plant surfaces are usually rendered quite light, or nearly white.
Infrared light also penetrates atmpspheric haze rather well. The mountains on the horizon are in Mexico, and usually cannot be seen clearly.
There is a break in the ridge in the upper left part of the picture. This is Santa Elena Canyon, which is shown more clearly elsewhere on this site.