Spellbound (with re-post)

First thing, before I critique....DADGUM!!! That is an awesome scene and great composition. I love landscape photos and B&W. I'm no expert on either but I'll throw my hat in the ring....

I would love to see the original image to see what you started with.
As for the processing, overall, I think there is too much sharpening on the entire image, but especially on the bottom half. I like what you did on the top half of the new version. To me, it's almost perfect, maybe just the tiniest bit too sharp. For the bottom half, I like the tones, brightness, contrast better on the previous version. The bottom half of the new version is WAY too sharp for my taste. Uniformly too bright also.
If it was my shot, I would try to make the mountain and sky the main focus, so I'd try not to lighten the foreground too much. Also wouldn't sharpen the FG at all, I think.

Regardless, great shot. I would be extremely proud if this was in my portfolio.

Fine imaging, Carey. Really sets a mood. When I see something like this I always wish I were about 40 feet higher for the perfect vantage point.

My thoughts were just about exactly what Alan said (especially the DADGUM part).

nicely done ...i love the top two-thirds of the image but would happily go to your original post for the bottom two-thirds (although the comments about the over-sharpening ring true and it's difficult to say whether the bottom third is an artefact of the sharpening business or the tones). still a moody and great atmospheric image.

In regards to the sharpening, I was attempting to address some of the issues that were pointed out in the original post but it does appear that I overcompensated with he structure in Silver FX2. Same goes or the brightness in the lower half. Here's a repost and thanks for the feedback

Nice image indeed! I too think it got a bit too much sharpening, but the repost looks great to me! The darkened foreground really adds a lot.

Beautiful composition and moody atmosphere. I think the third round is best.

Striking B&W Carey. Aside from the sharpening, I like this a lot and your repost is best.

Nice classic yet punchy B+W.

The difference in processing amazing, Carey. The two versions convey completely different feelings. I must say that I prefer this version although it looks like you've over sharpened this one, with all of the foliage looking distinctly crunchy. The repost, below, is nicely improved, although still a touch crunchy in the shrubbery. This looks very much like a classic mountain b&w, well worth getting right.

I think you nailed it with the repost, Carey. The darkened FG puts more attention on all that mood and atmosphere going on in the BG. Great image.

Ed

I like everything about this.