This dataset contains archived overhead photos collected from microplots in a long-term experiment (2013-present) of cross-scale interactions (CSIs) at the Jornada Basin LTER site in southern New Mexico, U.S.A. Experimental treatments were initiated in 2013 at 15 experimental blocks, each with 4 treatment plots: plant-scale herbicide of mesquite shrubs, patch-scale connectivity modifiers (ConMods), herbicide + ConMods, and control without manipulations. Repeat, overhead (downward-looking) photographs of ten "microplots" in each plot were taken for estimation of litter, soil, and vegetation cover in the experimental treatment and control plots over time. Photographs have been cropped, and in some cases rotated, to provide standardized areas for this analysis. The photographs are archived by year in Zip files. This study is ongoing and new photos will be added annually. Cover estimates derived from these photos are in EDI dataset knb-lter-jrn.210413005.