Higher Power

This is a b&W conversion of a high country shot from last October, taken just off-trail. In a very arid alpine area, I believe this gnarly deceased trunk is a Whitebark Pine. In any event, I spent at least two hours and maybe 100 exposures trying to get it right. I about gave up in disgust, actually packing up and hiking down the trail, then returned for another go, and tried this extreme view from underneath the beast. After many exposures I then focused at infinity and shot the clouds as they slid and morphed across the sky, cherry-picking the one I thought best when back at the computer. Shadow areas of the trunk have been brought up with a (brighter exposure) third layer, and some dodging and burning was done, as well as some tonal help by Tony Kuyper's luminosity masks.

This is a very impressive shot. That you explain, how you get it, is very interesting. Thanks. Best regards. hen Ry

All of your effort worked!  Very dramatic contrast with the sky and within the pine itself.

nicely done. well worth the effort.enjoyed the explanation too.never surrender :)

Superb - a seven from me!

Thank you Tony.

The artist often sees and rates their work quite different than the general public and even their contemporaries. I am frankly surprised this image has not been rated higher and had more comments. I consider it the best B&W I have ever produced. What am I missing?