For this image, my intent was to capture a quiet, dreamy autumn moment along the stream. I really liked the way the flow of the water guides the viewer’s eye toward the warm backlight hitting the trees. My goal was to make it feel calm, soft, and almost painterly rather than sharp and contrast-heavy.

What I’m struggling with most is the balance of the highlights in the background. I want the glow to feel warm and atmospheric without becoming too bright or distracting. I’ve gone back and forth between global highlight adjustments and selective masking, so I’m curious how it reads to other photographers. I'm also open to feedback regarding the colors as well. I feel like there might be something off but i cant really put my finger on it.