Cacti are fascinating photographic subjects and better the more spiny they get ... with a long lens, one at least will not risk being stung by any sharp thorn!
I like the impression manifested in the highlight blur circles, obviously there were cacti between the lens and the main subject to intercept some of the light rays. Would not go amiss using that even even more intensively, provided there was an adequate point-light background to support developing such an approach to the fullest extent of course.
