I've still not made up mind as to whether I prefer the black & white or color rendition of this image. For now, I'm calling the black & white a "favorite".

To my eye, this represents a strong composition of the scene and is very satisfying. The ultra-wide angle lens used (12mm) forces convergence of the graphic lines of the photo, resulting in an 'x' in the central lower third of the frame. The juniper's position at this intersection forces the eye to the undeniable center of the image, but the interest in the swift moving clouds draws the eye into exploring the upper space. The ultra wide angle lens also provided significant opportunity to place objects in the exact position and proportion that I wanted.

It's one of those photos that - for me - I wouldn't change a thing.

Canon EOS 5D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5 DG HSM @ 12mm, 1/10 sec @f/8, ISO equiv 100, Calumet 8000 Carbon Fiber Tripod, Gitzo G1276 Ballhead, Black & White conversion in Nik Silver Efex Pro