A few things worth noting about chollas

These are cholla cacti (Cylindropuntia species), photographed in what looks like the Sonoran Desert in Arizona — possibly the McDowell Sonoran Preserve or a similar area near.

A few things worth noting about chollas:
What you’re seeing — The golden glow on the spines is from low-angle sunlight (sunrise or sunset), which is a classic way cholla are photographed because the backlit spines create an almost luminous halo effect.
The species — The slender, branching one in Image 1 looks like a staghorn or buckhorn cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa), while the denser, bushier one in Image 2 could be a chain-fruit cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida).
A fun/terrifying fact — Cholla segments detach extremely easily and seem to “jump” onto passing animals and hikers (earning some species the nickname “jumping cholla”). The barbed spines are nearly impossible to remove by hand — the recommended method is using two sticks to flick the segment off.
Beautiful photos — the warm desert light really does them justice.