CPT2016 is panoramic view of the residential are of Cape Town. Nature vs habitation The technique, developed for military surveillance and crop surveys, captures near-infrared light: wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that fall between what we see as red and the longer wavelengths used for thermal imaging. The pigment in plant leaves, chlorophyll, strongly absorbs visible light which they use as a source of energy in the process of photosynthesis. The cell structure of the leaves, on the other hand, strongly reflects near-infrared light. The human eye is unable to perceive infrared light. A strong absorption at these wavelengths would only result in overheating the plant and possibly damaging the tissues. This reflected energy reacts with infrared-sensitive material to create electric pinks and vibrant reds.