not the way it started

When I press the release on the shutter cable, I usually have some idea of how the image will emerge from processing. Occasionally, though, that changes along the way. This time, it changed a lot. About a week ago, I looked out an upstairs window and saw that a few bunches of leaves on an oak tree had changed from green to a bright yellow. It was raining, and I needed the high viewpoint, anyway, so I opened the window, popped out the screen and took a few shots. The plan was to feature some of the yellow leaves among the green ones.

Nikon D3s, ISO 1600 (The raindrops were bouncing the leaves.), f/8, 1/80 sec, zoom at 180mm (360 with a 2X teleconverter) <- That was for the leaves. This is for the oak tree.-> ISO 200, f/11, 7-exposure HDR at 1 EV intervals, zoom at 20mm

processing highlights (starting with the leaf part)

• selected and blurred the background
• two Flypaper Textures textures -- Hard Light blend mode, different opacities, masked to background. (The colors have been lost but not the impact on tones.)
• Topaz Simplify -- saved watercolor preset
• Alien Skin Snap Art -- saved watercolor wash preset, Color, 50%
• Flypaper Textures texture -- Lighten, 46%, partially masked
• Fractalius -- two black and white layers, Multiply, different opacities, one masked off background
• Snap Art Line Art -- red/purple lines on white, Multiply, 42%
• Topaz Simplify -- saved edges preset, Multiply, 41%
• Topaz Lens Effects -- zoom, masked
• Digital Film Tools Rays -- same origin as Lens Effects, 41%
• stamped all layers and applied Simplify saved watercolor preset, Hard Light, 19%
• Nik Color Efex -- Darken/Lighten Center (same origin as Lens Effects and Rays), and Solarize; this layer was later masked to enhance the oak tree
• Invert adjustment layer
• Black & White adjustment layer
• Photo Filter adjustment layer, yellow, 60%
• stamped all layers and applied Simplify saved edges preset, Divide, 35%
• The tree (a different species of oak, actually) was shot when I decided something was needed to keep the viewer's eyes from following the light lines out of the right side or bottom of the image.
• tree silhouette placed and distorted to fit, 48% opacity
• Black & White adjustment layer

Hi, Dennis, this is very surreal looking and I like it! The tree really makes the image in my opinion. It reminds me of a local photographer, Jerry Uelsmann, who is world famous and worked with Ansel Adams when he was younger (so you're in good company:S3:)

Dynamic and engaging. I like this a lot Dennis. The leaves and rays of light radiating from the center and the tree grounding the image on the right. Always fun to go where an image takes you.:S3:

Dennis,

Greetings. Dare I say... brilliant! The rays pull the focus and really shine. Interesting size contrast with the tree. Thanks for posting.

Cheers,

-Michael-

Dennis lovely work, not much I can say to the negative, only if it were mine, I'd probably try and achieve more contrast between the light and dark.... Thanks for posting.

Dennis, this is most impressive. Trying to go through your processing of this image, may be one of my winter projects. I hope you do not mind. I have learned a ton following your example. Thanks

Gary, I don't mind at all. Much to the contrary. If you'd like, I'll add some screen shots of the layer palette to this thread.