Having lived with the black and white version of my Hawthorn tree for a few days I decided it was too harsh and contrasty, and the horizon looked wrong with the artefacts from the layer mask. So have just started again from the RAW files, not converted to b&w, been more subtle with the sky and more careful with the horizon, and think I’m now happy with the result. Live with it for a few more days and see. I should remember that really on the lightest touch adjustments work well. Heavy handed stuff looks just that.

The OP theme for the month is clouds. Have looked back over 3 years of photos and there’s barely a cloud in the frame let alone a cloud worthy of submission. Will keep my eyes peeled.