Thanks to a piece in 'Professional Imagemaker', the journal of the Societies of Photographers, I began to explore Blend Modes in Photoshop much more than I have done in the past.
I absolutely believe that pressing the shutter is only the end of part 1 of making an image. Part 2 follows in the digital or analogue darkroom. That being said, I am, what others might consider, quite conservative in my work to finish the image with, what I call, the digital negative.
The article quotes Robert Thomas in saying, "Working with blend modes is almost always an experimental process. Because it's nearly always impossible to predict the results, you always seem to end up experimenting with different modes and Fill Opacities until you get the result you're looking for." That last point is crucial, for me at least. I think you have to start experimenting with a very clear plan in your head of what you want the image to look like. I don't go for the method of working that sees one trying everything and picking what looks the best. That suits some people, but not me. I am trying to find what will work to give me the image that I had in my head.
Anyway, as I say, I experimented with Blend Modes, to see if I could I could coax a photograph that was set aside in the past, to make the image that was in my mind.
This is the result of putting a new layer to 'Linear Light' mode and adjusting the opacity to 79%. Now I have the image that I envisaged 3 years ago when I took the photo in Yosemite, California.