And that is exactly what you did here -- you were able to do both. Each of these images is entirely different from each other, in spite of having the same subject. Such is the nature of abstraction, and our ability to harness both computer and camera in search of meaning.
There is no better or worse here, Tim. The two images say different things. The color is more real -- the ghost in it is chilling. It gives Death Valley an indelible identity. This image is less real, a work of art that is more a dreamscape than a landscape. By abstracting it, and removing the color, the meaning becomes universal. To me, this is more disturbing and psychological in nature. The color version conveys the essence of Death Valley -- a sense of place. Each succeeds in its own way. Your inability to choose between them does not reflect a failing as an editor. It simply means that you are not quite sure yet of what you want to say.
