Does Affinity apply auto adjustments upon import?

[BrianKeebler]

Hi folks,

Newbie here. I need some help to determine if my mind is tricking myself or not! lol

I imported a raw file this morning and I could swear I chose cancel instead of develop and it left the image, untouched, on the screen.

Now when I press cancel, it doesn't import the image and I'm left with a blank screen in AP as if nothing is imported (sure looks that way).

When I was importing the image this morning, it looks like AP automatically adjusted the image? Is that possible? I don't want it to do that. I want to do make changes I see fit.

The colour is also off compared to the image I see in Preview (because of what I think are auto adjustments). I've made sure the colour profile is the same (Display P3).

The image on the left is the original.....the image in the middle is from AP after the auto adjustments. Both are screen captures.

I know...not a great photo which is why I want to adjust the shadows and hi lights. I watched a great YT video on how to do that. 

BUT I want to keep that gorgeous background of the original.

The image on the far right is the saved file after the import this morning when AP didn't change the image.

I created a layers adjustment, inverted the image, made sure the brush was set to white and 0% hardness. Then for whatever reason now the brush is black and not white. I didn't change a thing.  I brushed down on the front of the owl to show what I mean.

Any help would be great.