Which...

[Chunk]

... of these do you like better? Or do you care for them at all? I was attracted by the straightshadows lain on the herringbone bricks.
Canon S30. Downtown Columbus GA.

[mikehulsebus]

Oh yikes that is cool--it almost has the feel of two things on top of each other--like my eyes can either focus on the brick pattern or the bench pattern (assuming it is a bench). As for which one I like better, I'll have to go with the one from a further distance, though it would be nice if there wasn't that white section smack-dab in the middle.
On another topic, www.photographyblog.com runs monthly photo competitions and this month's theme is patterns....

[another view]

I like the idea for the shot, but I think that a composition somewhere between the two would be best. The first one is too tight; I'm not sure what I'm looking at (not that it's a bad thing especially with an abstract) but I think a little more of the bench would make it interesting. I don't like the highlights on the second shot though, and it seems like a little too much information. I'd probably crop it just below the spot where the herringbone pattern in the brick starts (only showing this pattern in the brick, but a little more of the bench).

I'm not going to modify your image for two reasons - I don't want to do it without your permission and also I don't have PS here .

[gahspidy]

I think Both are fine, but the blown out highlight in the second one is hurting it. I would say the first one i like best, but you should just line it or straighten it out in the frame a bit. Turn the image slightly clockwise to straighten it in the frame ( the first shot) it does make a good abstract

[Chunk]

Oh yikes that is cool--it almost has the feel of two things on top of each other--like my eyes can either focus on the brick pattern or the bench pattern (assuming it is a bench). As for which one I like better, I'll have to go with the one from a further distance, though it would be nice if there wasn't that white section smack-dab in the middle.
On another topic, www.photographyblog.com runs monthly photo competitions and this month's theme is patterns....

Thanks for everybodies comments and thanks for the blog link as well. I entered the first shot (after straightening) in the monthly contest - I titled it Overlay. There are a lot of good photos there so I don't hold out much hope.