Case in point, I shot this while on location years back and have attempted to work with it multiple times. Each time however I felt that the “soul” of the image was lacking and I simply filed it away assuming it was one of those images that start as great ideas, but in the end, just don’t work. However, after reviewing this image again a year later, I was able to see the tonality and detail that was missing in my first processing attempts and had a better sense of the heart of the image. Once again I started processing but this time was pleased with the results.
So as a word of encouragement to all photographers, don’t consider your first attempt your one and only chance. Remember that a captured image is nothing more than notes on the page. It’s up to the artist to intemperate those notes and create a musical work of art.
Keep chasing the light.
~ Jonathan McIntyre