Black and White layer mask, painting black only shows faint image below

[Sheri Ann218708499atd]

I am trying to figure out the layer mask in the 2023 photoshop. I can only get it to work sometimes and I am not sure what i am doing wrong. My current issue is with painting with black. Even though the brush's opacity is at 100%, and hardness at 100% when I paint I only get a very desaturated image on the under layer. Why won't it appear in full color? See pictures.

[Myra Ferguson]

The Flow for the brush is set at 14%. Try it at 100%.

Here's more information about flow and other brush settings:

• Painting tools