And here is how i had processed it earlier:

Both are nice arati..may be the first one is “slightly” better...

As the light changes..The blacks and whites will naturally change....Like “ our shifting dreams “....

Personally I like this one far more than the one processed earlier. I love the soft muted tones than the contrasty earlier one. Beautiful soothing layers here..

I am beginning to come around to that point of view, Ganesh - maybe not in all subjects ... but in many. beginning to like seeing the gradation of tones - even in the shadows -rather than the dense black "mystery" i used to prefer ...

thanks for your guidance here, Ganesh.

Thanks Sriram ... i removed the philosophical stuff i had written but i know what you mean.

A

I really liked the many nuances of the dreams, reminds me of the movie 'Inception', dreams within dreams within dreams. A multi-layered dream which one would not want to come out. I am a big fan of the forest canopy. I have spent long hours staring into the canopy from the many view points in the W Ghats, to catch a glimpse of an eagle out hunting giant squirrels and the swoosh of the Great Pied Hornbill. The canopy can make a good subject for a macro level study and equally good subject for a wide vista like this.

I liked the new version, much soothing to the eyes.

VMR your comment brought a broad smile to my lips. this image to me is a depiction of exactly that - dreams within dreams, shifting scenes, hiding and revealing, growing on the fly ... much like the subconscious, much like Inception. Inception is a favorite movie in my home - sanjana and i love the concept and have watched it multiple times.

As for the forest canopy, yes! rarely studied, and many mysteries there. it is probably my favorite part of the forest and i nurse a dream to one day spend time up there. i guess that is why they and images of them fascinate me, absorb me.
thanks for your comments, VMR. they always seem to resonate with me.

A

arati, i love this image, and having memories of us having been together at Danum Valley, so add to it.

have seen ur image of this before, Pen and ink awash... and yet this seems different with all the awareness of "tonalities" and processing it differently. learning that ,subtle nuances make the mood in the image..i like both. just like the Ragas..different moods for different times ..
im sure if we go back to Danum, the same scene will be previsualised and presented in myriad more ways..

lovely.

Arati, agree with everyone here, I prefer this to the older image.. A lighter shade of black makes such a difference!

Thanks Neelu and Radha.

Neelu, as i always say "As i grow in my art, and renew my seeing, i want to go back to places. to experience them again, for the first time." I know i will go back to Danum very soon.

Actually Radz, taking it out of the deep black, i am able to retain/regain some of the green that is showing up as the sunlight strikes ... i like that...
thanks girls,
A

Beautiful layers with good use of tones!!!