Don't know what you are using to scan. You and Rork should compare notes as he seems to be getting beautiful results. I've found when scanning B&W PRINTS on a flatbed scanner I get better results scanning them in "color" mode than "grayscale." More depth to the tones; guess its because it is using three different black and white points (a curve for each color), rather than a single curve. I do not know if something similar would work when scanning a B&W negative as a color slide. You are right about color negatives having more exposure latitude. The C-41 based B&W emulsions are supposed to get some of this back. But then you lose all the control of developing your own. I usually shoot color negatives and convert to B&W in photoshop, but I'd guess I'm losing something. Neat picture BTW.