Wings of Stone (and repost of 'Beyond Here...')

"And though these wings have turned to stone, I can fly, fly, fly away!
Watch me fly across the desert like a shadow on the sky..."

*Dangerbird*-Neil Young

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Yet another site I found on my recent journey in the Manti-LaSal lands that evoked a song in my mind.
I've seen hundreds of ancient Anasazi petroglyphs in my wanderings throughout the Colorado Plateau, but this 6 ft. tall rendition of a heron (crane?) rising above the sun is surely one of the best, and makes the term 'rock art' seem so appropriate.

Something about this series seems to almost force my hand toward creating b&w reproductions. Hope they translate well...

And a 'looser' version of Beyond Here Lies Nothin'.

I think I prefer it over the original cropped version I posted earlier. Not completely sure, though.
Your opinions really mean a lot to me, if you would be so kind as to offer any. Thanks!!

Damn it John! You're killin' me! It's still just over a week before I head out that way and you've got me in such a frenzied state that I can't concentrate on all the stuff I have to get done before I can head out.

Stop posting this stuff - or at least wait until Saturday the 24th!

I almost forgot - the presentation of the heron petroglyph is flawless!

These are both phenomenal, John. I like the looser version of the 2nd one best. It's even more ominous and suggestive than the first.

More incredible stuff from your trip. It is readily apparent that you were zoned in to your photography during this "walkabout". Your focus and effort are showing in all of your shots so far. Keep 'em comin' !

I look at your stuff, and just sit in awe of not just your talent, but the locations.

Love that Heron. The style of the rock art looks different than the rock art in the area. Cool Beans!!! Joe.

Both are spectacular, but I particularly like the first one. The presentation of it is great. Thanks for sharing.

I gotta like the first one, John.......all the radial lines move out of the frame. This effect is broken in the looser version. This give the first one more continuity IMHO.
The mystery of the image and the execution make this one of my favorite photographs.
Joe Rogers

You're in the zone. That bird image is a beautiful conversion ... as CAZ said, flawless.

Boy, I am completely torn on the other versions. I give a slight edge to the first one. The tightness of the comp seems to enhance the impact of that wall - a more "in-your-face" presentation of the window to nowhere.

Excellent B&W series-the second image has a very spooky feel. It also has strong dimensionality, like the wall is crying out with no one to hear.

These are GREAT, man! On the first, I think I'd like to see whiter whites, but I like the remake of the second even more than the original. Great stuff. Six feet tall??? Wow!

Another, WOW. The heron petroglyph is amazing and I think you're right on with the B&W conversion. And while the "looser" version of Beyond Here Lies Nothin' i still awesome, I like the power of the "tighter" version. I think its the centered opening that enhances the vortex feel of the image that really pulls me in. Great stuff, man.

WOW, that crane is certainly unique! At 6 ft tall, that must have been an amazing sight!

I much prefer the original crop of the granary. As other's noted, the crop really enhances the "vortex" effect.

Great dramatic stuff, John! I like the looser version with just a little cropped off the top. What color was the artwork? I'm curious because many times it's hard to get that kind of contrast between the drawng and the rock.

You're getting some mixed opinions on the granary shot. I go back and forth myself. The tight crop of the original does make the black window more focused but the "wideness" of the second is equally evocative to me but in a different way (not sure what that "way" is).

I love that first one, John. I'd be tempted to punch up the whites in the bird just to enhance the contrast. I think I like the repost of #2 better than the original. Great stuff!

John, I just saw this. The bird image is spectacular! I need to have you give me a lesson in BW conversion! I also like the re-do of the grainery but not as much as the original image. This one doesn't draw me in in quite the same way. This second version has a more subtle and mysterious feel. Personally I'd go for the first if I was making a print as it will reach out and grab people in a powerful way. Just my $0.02

Thanks so much for the kind words and ideas, folks!
Due to your comments, I've decided to go with a cropped version of this one, leaving just a bit more room on the top than the original crop.

Thanks again!

The bird is a pretty darned cool shot. The second version of "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'" oddly (or perhaps not) lacks the immediate impact of the first one. I just went back to the first one and it still gives me a very clear sense of pulling in which delivers an instantaneous effect even after having looked at it a few times. The difference, I think, is the crop and the processing. Thanks for sharing!

John,

That bird just blows me away....you are incredible---that you found it and that you photographed it so beautifully.

Both are outstanding John. Really like the petroglyph.

Just saw this post, John. Awesome capture of the petroglyph! Very well done.

This is just too awesome, John. I love finds like this. Great treatment with the b+w