AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

The colours in the boulder are beautiful, so actually, I think I prefer the colour image (I know - you didn't ask for our preferences). But the B&W really brings out the lines in the boulder, and that's beautiful also. I don't think I'd go as dark as Bob's, but I would take the exposure down and the contrast up just to delineate them even more.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

Hi Mike,

I'm quite a fan of B&W, but I feel that the colors are important to this image. I played around with various B&W edits but I always favored the color over any of the B&W edits. For me, the fine detail in the rock presents better in color than monotone. Also, the details in this rock gets a little lost in all the detail and fine structure of the background. I would also consider ways to de-emphasize the background to make the rock the clear center of attention.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Thanks everybody for taking the time to share your views. They are helpful and I am learning a lot about techniques.

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

To me, this was the best of the alternatives (I'm reposting rmalarz's image).

The original has too much of the same thing. This one, by darkening and brightening different areas, gives my eye something (the left side of the rock) to look at while offering something else (the darker side of the rock) to compare. Doing so also brought out some depth.

As for clipping, I like keeping all the blacks, as well as clipping some whites (since there isn't very much to clip) in order to bring out more of them.

The only think that I'd rather not see is the increased noise. Or, is it just me?

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

I'm trying but can't seem to do it.