Originally posted by SpecialK It needs to be leveled if nothing else. I would crop off the bottom 1/2 inch or so to just above the white portion of that stick. as that part is sort of busy and distracting. Also a bit dark, perhaps, and the brown leaves don't help in this case.
The stick on the bottom was accumulating snow as I was taking the shot and that's what is making it white. You are right...it distracts from the object of the picture instead of adds to it.
The leaves could be helped by some PP adjustments. They came out much more brown in the picture than they were in real life. I think if I pumped up the yellow and lightened the picture a bit it will get to the desired effect.
Thanks for the feedback SpecialK!