Grain Question

[Don Case]

I'm scraping away on my first piece of yew and started looking at the grain. This is the belly so it doesn't matter much but if this was the back how would I know if this was an island or a dip? Put another way if I was chasing a ring should I be removing wood from the center or around the outside?

[SLIMBOB]

Center in that example, but I think I understand your bigger question.  I have on some staves in spots, started scraping away what I believed to be at that moment, proud or thick areas with the desire to get down to the ring I was chasing, only to find out that it was a thin area where I had already violated the back ring.  I don't know if there is any advise I can give other than look at those areas in question very carefully in good lighting and make sure you understand the topography before you proceed.