Very interesting...just tree and lamp...i like this gray,foggy BG and sure understud your choice to not remove "stuff"...like this very much.

I agree with Denis

Nice picture – I like that you have included the lamp post. *lol* I’m sure that many would be more bothered about the lamp post than the second tree to the right. I know you don’t like cloning away/removing things, but if you don’t mind cropping I would suggest that you remove unwanted elements by cropping. Here you could for example crop off quite a lot from the top (both sky and branches – no sky above the branches), from the right (half way to the trunk) and maybe a little bit from the left.

Thanks Denis, Tibor, Bram and Caroline. Bram I agree that the branch is a bit distracting, but I also like the feeling that the tree has "company". I am not sure how hard and fast I will be about not removing stuff. I may still do it from time to time, with disclosure. Caroline, I did wonder if anyone would suggest cropping out the lamp post :-). I have no problem with cropping and I cropped out quite a bit of the tree on the right and some stuff on the bottom. I tried your suggested crop and I like it too. However, part of what attracted me to taking this picture was the tree against the space behind it.

I think this is a pretty good shot as is, primarily because the conversion is very good. However, I really like Caroline's suggestion, which changes the dynamics of this shot completely. With her crops, the diagonal of the LH branches of the subject tree become the major organizing force of the image and give it an energy this more static full-frame shot doesn't have. Also, the very slight lean of the pole could stand to be corrected since it's so close to being "right" now it's distracting.

Thanks Ferd. looking at the lamp I can see that I did not get quite straight. I like the crop Caroline suggested. She sent me a version she did and I like it a lot. Your description of why you would also crop it is very helpful.

Wonderful image Frank and I also agree with Caroline and Ferd.

It's crying out for some help to rise above average. It has the makings of an elegant, simple composition without...

Thanks Eugene, John and Rob.