I can spend hours playing with my photos – arbitrarily adjusting hues, contrast, and saturation. Converting from color to black & white and then back again. Oftentimes, I dodge and burn all my interest right out of the photo and then toss it aside in frustration. And it’s not like anything was wrong with the original. Photoshop and Lightroom just have too many editing options, and I find myself wanting to try them all. And I wonder why. Am I trying to enhance a mood? Make some point? Why wasn’t the original good enough for me?
Sometimes the best thing to do is just set aside the photo for a while and come back to it later. Ultimately, your photographs are your ART. Whether you choose to share them unedited or alter them beyond recognition, the final images should resonate with you. Don’t worry about how others might judge your work. The question is, do you like it?
When I rediscovered this photo today, I was instantly struck by the mood I had created by converting it to B&W. I also liked how the arch in this old doorway created a natural frame for the sky. I accept this as my art, and today, I share it with you.
Jolene's Life in Focus 
A very effective composition. Works perfectly in the classic B&W style. 😉
At the risk of being repetitious, stunning photo!
Compliments are never repetitious to me. Thank you!!
🙂
Beautiful Share Jolene. I always sit back a bit and wait after shooting. Let the experience kind of mellow in, like a fine wine. Sometimes I will find different moods in different parts of my image or from going from color to b&w to sepia, etc.
I think that’s the way to do it! Thanks, Harold!
The black and white is stunning! The contrast of the sharp curve of the arch with the softened sky… lovely.
Thank you, Dawn!
Haunting and beautiful. I love the mood you enhanced with your artful touches in Photoshop. Nice work!
Thank you, Michelle!