Misha, thanks sooooo much. well, you're absolutely right...lightening does make the mood more joyful! and this is definitely closer to the way the sky looked. in fact, kemal and i were talking about how the sky had blown out highlights NATURALLY! LOL! i do love what you did!!! but i shot it darker this way i guess because even though i felt so much joy here, i also have been feeling such heaviness lately. hard to explain but these pics show my mood. yep, true Misha...i notice and feel everything all at once and feel overwhelmed in trying to process it ALL, and I get SENSORY OVERLOAD. Trying to convey what i feel, what i'm taking in during one particular moment is so frustrating. it's like everything is rushing at me so fast i'm spinning. when i feel extreme joy, i actually get dizzy. anyway, i just can't pinpoint what's off about this. Maybe as Jadench said...just a little lighter; however, there's something about the composition bothering me. foreground perhaps. nothing going on...too many trees? Jadench...perhaps that's what it is? needs some shades of green. might be. i like your idea Misha. might help me. i know i would benefit from such a challenge exercise. and shooting in grous of 3...good idea. i have such a hard time focusing and concentrating. i'll get to a museum and try to focus on composition. ok...i learned something from this now. feel better. i like that b/w a lot too Misha!!!! practice, practice, practice...well...i do that a LOT. Ok...i'll stop whining about this one now. Thanks a bunch!!!! :) hugz