sandstone channels

These are sandstone channels on top of Kings River Falls. I took the picture a few weeks ago and haven't been able to make up my mind about it. Anyone have a strong, or not so strong, reaction to it one way or the other?

Thanks.

Randy - this has a nice abstract feel to it. And you might play around with a b&w version to make it even more abstract. This image really seems to me to have two separate subjects - the puddle on the left, and the falling water on the right. Almost a yin-yang of water forms between the peaceful and the stressful. To me, the image wants to be cropped from the right hand side, maybe half-way to the falls.

I agree with Tim, it seems to have two subjects. I really like it best when it's either the left or the right side separately.

Same here, Randy - seems like two subjects. I tend to find a little more interest in the puddle and texture in the sandstone. And I think Tim's suggestion about trying a B&W version would be worth a try.

Thanks for the responses so far. I've got a black and white version of a photo taken from a slightly different angle during the same shoot. Perhaps there is more to unify the image there, but maybe still not enough of interest in it to make it a keeper.

http://comp.uark.edu/~jrwilson/images/_MG_6232.jpg

Randy:

I've always loved these channels over there and have shot them several times and always picked them out of the batch as being great. However when it comes time to include them in a book or exhibit, they get culled for some reason. I like the pair of other shots of these channels you have on your web site, in fact it took me a moment to figure out where you found them, and then it hit me, duh, right on the other side of the main fall.

If you look at the sky-reflected water on the left in your image above you can see a ghost with a pair of unequal eyes and a pointed chin, with the trees being his hair - or is it a genie coming out of the rock...

Hey Tim, I didn't see that particular ghost until until you pointed him out, but I love those places where you can almost see the spirits who live in creeks. It's an odd thing about those spirits, most of the time you can catch sight of them better if you close one eye. They just seem to snap into view better that way, which of course means that you can see them best in a photograph, because after all a camera is a one-eyed contraption.

You might find a few spirits lurking somewhere in these:

http://comp.uark.edu/~jrwilson/images/lwsgrd01.jpg
http://comp.uark.edu/~jrwilson/images/lwsgra01.jpg
http://comp.uark.edu/~jrwilson/images/lwsgre01.jpg

Those are some beautiful abstracts, Randy. I definitely see a few spirits in those - even with both eyes open.

Now you're starting to go Piacaso on us with these abstracts! I tend to have a "vertical" eye when shooting and as such would agree that the first shot would lend itself to that format. There is some wonderful detail in the rock. Good shots Randy!