#1

I like that you are really pushing yourself to try new things with your camera and processing. I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to share a couple of thoughts with you.

First, your exposure here is really superb. You do have a really good range of tones, from nearly pure black to pure white. I think with a little adjustment of the white point and the black point you could give this black and white image even more pop.

Regarding your composition -- I might have been tempted to step forward about 50 feet or so. This would have removed the protruding tree limbs on either side, removed the black box and small post on the right side, and focused the viewer's eyes on that lovely tree at the center, the house, and the ridge in the background. With your sky you'd have had a really terrific composition. You see what I'm saying?

This is very good work, Barbara; keep doing what you're doing. Cheers! Chris