I remember commenting on this image when I first saw it over a year ago. It remains your strongest example of expressive photography in this new gallery as well. The vertical frame contrasts the scale of detail at both top and bottom, which creates a sensation of great depth. I think your photo athttp://www.pbase.com/trevvelbug/image/41759697 is the same subject, also framed vertically, but since that image is not based on a top to bottom comparison, the vertical frame does not work as well there, as it does for you here. As I commented, I think a horizontal frame on that one would have expressed the feeling of flow and movement more effectively. A good lesson in framing.
This is excellent use of wideangle perspective in a vertical format -- it gives strong emphasis to the detail in the foreground, yet includes excellent context, including tiny figures as scale incongruity.