How I did it - This image of the Mummy Mountain Range was converted to B&W just to see if it worked well enough to frame as a representation of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Mummy Mountain Range here is as significant as Half Dome is to Yosemite National Park and Ansel Adams. I had Photoshop, however, to assist me. I look forward to your comments. -

COMMENTS:
 

Jerry Appel	Very fine scenic, good depth, great mountain peaks, fine exposure. The tonality leans a bit towards the dark side. I think this is a good choice.,
Bill Buchanan	My first impression of this image was a classic Ansel Adams scene. A great sky waiting to be enhanced and some contrast needing to be unleashed. I copied the image and did a few things in Photoshop to bring out what I saw in the image. Here are a few changes I made. I Cropped the image to lower the horizon line. I made a duplicate layer and changed the blend mode to Multiply, this increased the density; I increased the contrast in Curves, added a layer using Topaz Adjust 5 (sorry I did not document the setting for added POP). I created a layer mask to bring back detail in the lower foreground. The image was sharpened and I added white stroke border.
Joe Hearst	I'm a mountain lover and this is a spectacular range - and the clouds really contribute to the image. I do think, however, that it is a bit flat, and could use somewhat more contrast.
Guy Davies	What a superb scene! The composition is very satisfying, with the foreground trees at bottom left and just along the lower edge pushing the eye into the frame to take in that flat valley floor with the winding river, and then on to the backdrop of the mountains and finally the dark and sombre sky. There is a lot to look at in this image and I’m sure there is a lot more visible in the full resolution original. I think black & white works very well for this sort of image. There is no distraction from colour which can reduce the drama in some circumstances. One thing I find, though, is that a b/w image usually requires a little more contrast than the same image in colour.
Karen Kotner	Anne, this is a beautiful scene and the overall composition is good. I like the interest the layers create- the trees in the foreground, the valley in the middle and the snowcapped mountain tops and sky in the background. I think the image could be improved if it had more contrast and pop. On my screen, it looks gray and flat. Perhaps you could brighten the clouds without blowing them out and darken the sky to provide more contrast.
Erik Rosengren	Well framed by the foreground trees. Good use of thirds and a fine sky. Well done Ann.

Member Bio

Ann Schonlau- Biography After retiring, my love of nature and photography motivated me to upgrade my photo equipment and move from Illinois to Colorado, where I now call home. The front range of the Rocky Mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park are my backyard. I have spent the last year really learning to photograph wildlife and landscapes. The number of great photographers I have met here, who have spent their lives in the Rockies photographing this wonderland, has inspired me even more. Rocky Mountain National Park is my main focus and I am presently providing images for their interpretative program.