Please offer your assistance in this contrast play. 2 images only

original

Maybe something like this? To bring out the contrast I have solely tweaked the settings in the Shadow/Highlight dialog (Photoshop CS2). The shadow controls were left untoutched (amount 0), while the highlight controls were set to the following values: amount - 55%, tonal width - 50%, radius - 20px. In the Adjustments controls of the same dialog I also set midtone contrast to 10%. With these adjustments the end result doesn't look as "flat" while the contrast between the white smoke and the darker background is still brought out quite strongly. I also made some small adjustments in the channel mixer to remove the slight yellow/green cast that resulted from the shadow/highlight treatment. Hope this was somewhere close to the kind of assistance you wanted...

Yes that sure makes it look dramatic.Plus you brought out the buildings a little sharper. Good stuff. Only thing I liked on the top one is the plant colors. Will work with this. Thanks.

I think something between 1 and Erik's version. It needs some of the warmth from Doug's postworked version, but is very dramatic. Neat image too!

Okay...this is a little late and you are probably done with it by now, but I love contrast and have never played with all the settings in photoshop.....so here is my try. I have a feeling I went a little overboard with it, but I'm no expert. :) I played with it just real quick.

Very neat to see what everyone is coming up with...guess I should give it a go. Various adjustments in photoshop...not even sure I like what I did, hahah.

Minor adj's in levels, Shadow highlight to draken the base of the clouds. An added layer, sharpened opacity 12%. Great scene, a lot going on.

I am going to copy each one of these and come to a happy medium. This is like being at a buffet and having a hard time choosing. Thanks everyone. Takes my dilemna away.

Well, the version that I prefer out of all these is actually urs Douggy!! I think u did a superb job on it urself!! It subtle, soft and very pleasing to the eyes! My 2 pennies worth! :)

They all look wonderful but I have to go with Pascale here and say I like your first one the best.I also like the blue-ish cast in Eriks.There's something very painterly about your shot and I'm wracking my brain trying to remember which painter it reminds me of.Hmmm.Possibly Turnbull.Does that make sense?LOL.Looks like I'll be doing some googling cuz now it's going to bother me! :)

It won't let me edit! Okay it was Turner.Not Turnbull. Because of the dramatic sky and the plume of oh-so-white smoke. Okay.Done boring you,lol.