A little Help???

[jmaccs64]

I have this image I really like...but I want to make it better, I am looking for a little help with suggestions, and/or directions....to make this better.
I have tried B&W, and it doesnt do it for me....Please Help!:D
http://joemacchia.smugmug.com/photos/121485542-L.jpg

[cletus]

Hi Joey,

I thought a simple contrast boost would do the trick, but it washed out the sky. I wound up doing:

Selected the sky
Copied it to a new layer
Darkened the new "sky" layer using levels
Ran a slight 'S' shaped curve to the bottom (original layer) to provide a touch more contrast in the buildingThis was very quick and very dirty, so with a bit more effort I'm sure it could look a lot better:
http://ab0wa.smugmug.com/photos/122214135-M.jpg

[jfriend]

I have this image I really like...but I want to make it better, I am looking for a little help with suggestions, and/or directions....to make this better.
Here's a LAB example:
Convert to LAB mode
Apply an L-curve to the sky to darken it. Isolate the sky with a blend-if setting since the sky is the only area of the image that is negative in the B channel
Apply an L-curve to the building to add contrast and separate the different tones in the building. Again, isolate it from the sky using the opposite blend-if settings from the sky isolation.
Steepen the A and B channels to pry the colors apart in the building to add emphasis to the brickwork.
Blend with the original to your own taste. I left it a bit exaggerated here, but you could tone it down if you wanted.
Flatten and convert back to RGBhttp://jfriend.smugmug.com/photos/122241557-O.jpg

[jmaccs64]

WOW Thanks...guys...
I really appreciate your help, now I just have to figure out how to do all the things you guys mentioned!