Bosque Pre-dawn Crane Rembrandt?

This pre-dawn image was created on a dark, cloudy, gloomy morning on the recently concluded Bosque del Apache IPT with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 50. Evaluative metering +1 stop (should have been at least +3 stops): 30 sec. at f/32.

NIK Color EFEX Pro 4 as follows: Detail Extractor at 100% on the sky and at 50% on the birds and water all via a regular Layer Mask. Classical Soft Focus (did not change the image much). And Brilliance/Warmth at 50% opacity. As suggested pre-posting by Lady D I removed a dark spot from the top of the central mountain and ran NIK Color EFEX Pro 4 Darken/Lighten Center with a few tweaks. Thanks Denise for helping me improve this image.

Art, When I first looked at, my eyes kept trying to get the trees back in focus. The birds look great as does the far-ground. I'm thinking the trees could use a bit more blur............No matter, it's really nice with beautiful warm and cool tone colored layers. :S3: I took a wack at it with just the blur tool for quickness, I also toned down the orange just a hair...........your call!

Nothing dark and gloomy about this capture though. I love the autumn colors and the look created by the processing.

Artie, I like the colors and the softness created from the blur. The OP works for me since I like seeing just a bit of detail to hold my eye on that main tree for a moment. I love the pale blue water with the cranes. I will have to try a 30 sec. one myself!:S3:

Lovely colors and pleasing blur Artie. Nicely processed!

Artie, wonderful composition! I like the layers and the shades of autumn. I also like traces of blue in the sky along with the mountains.

Lovely composition, light, color, and layering for depth. I like this one very much as presented!