What’s all this crop?

In my photography I've started thinking about "how I can make things look longer or taller."   I think the right crop might be the answer.   The two photos today are examples of my pursuit of this idea.    I've always loved vertical landscapes which comes from my interest in vertical Japanese woodblock prints like the ones by Utagawa Hiroshige.    I think the particular crop in these two photos,  which is a vertical 16X9, creates this effect nicely.   It makes the main subject of tall trees look even taller in my mind.  It "heightens" their already magnanimous stature.    I also used various textures and effects.   

What I find really funny is that the main tree in the photo on the left is significantly smaller that the tall tree in the photo on the right.  It's more of an overgrown shrub, actually, that is about 12 ft tall compared to the large tree on the right which must be about 50 ft tall.    But again, I think the crop really goes a long way to lengthen this tree.   Hope you enjoy.  

What do you think?  Is the crop pleasing to your eye?   Or is it just too much?

Are we living in the “underworld”?

Orpheus’ entrance to the underworld
It's easy to get sucked into the vortex of negativity that we perceive, witness; and turn it into our own personal suffering.   While this life is made of suffering - we should not add to our suffering that which we do not have the power to change.

Árstíðir - Hvenær kemur sól (When will the sun come) 
fyi: Árstíðir translated means Seasons.  Also next to Sigur Ros they are my favorite icelandic band.