I Think I Am In Love!

I have never been terribly happy with Black and White photography in the age of the digital camera but I think things are about to change.  I am playing with new software that gives amazing control of contrast and local variations.  Here is a first attempt.
Original

and the edited version

I think that in many photos, the colour can be a distraction and this software can bring a photo back to the essentials.  The object of my desire - Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.