Less is more…that was my approach. My first edit was way to sharp and contrasted and it killed that wonderful hazy foggy background so I thought maybe not even any tone curve and let that background stay hazy and maybe more like it was. Its so tempting to try to get more from the background but I think its a nice contrast to the tree line and grass and rocks in the foreground. You could go even softer I suppose for a real dreamy look. I may also have the grass too bright and saturated wrt original but that too is a variable in the outcome…and it seems to look more so after import than it did in DT…I had more blue in the green
The blue sky stripe in the background is excellent. It gives the scene an immense depth.
I tried again to paint with light to create a connection between the hill and the illuminated clouds in the middle of the photo to create a kind of light oasis. Such areas of light are then indicated again and again on the horizon in this wide band of sky.
Went back to working on this one a few times, never was quite satisfied. Always feels like foliage and grass are my nemesis. Now I think it’s ok, though.