I followed a link on =MOSREDNA's journal yesterday and read a very interesting article about dodging and burning techniques. I've only ever used the dodge and burn brushes to 'fix' small parts of images, not to alter the overall feeling of a photo, and not as a primary tool.

I converted this image (Monument Valley, May 2005) to grayscale using the channel mixer, and then used the dodge and burn brushes alternately on sections of sky and ground.

I'm quite pleased with it, but I'm keen to hear what you think. It's a bit of a departure from my usual style, but I'd love to learn some more sophisticated post processing techniques, and experimenting like this is the best way to learn.

I think the result suits the image because Monument Valley is such a dramatic and unique looking landscape. When I walked up to the first lookout (where I took this photo), I stopped breathing for a few seconds as I struggled to comprehend the vastness stretched out before me. There's a kind of sombre power here that reminds us how truly sublime nature is, and I hope this image gets some of that across.