After The Eruption

Although by now, I'll bet you couldn't tell that there was ever an eruption.
How much? Trust me, it still looks like the apocalypse.

I really really like the subject here, the tree looks awesome. Im not really sold on the watercolor clouds though, they are a bit too filter-looking for my tastes. Im wondering how it would look if the clouds were blurred, without the defined edges here. A tattered look might be appropriate for 'stormy', but an undefined look would work with the ash filled sky idea too. Just a thought.

Have you been there, lately? Does it STILL look like this? I would have thought Mother Nature would have had some time to work. But, with no trees, it would be difficult. We did see some deer (no place to hide), so there must be something to eat..somewhere.

The sky is "intact". I just desaturated and tweaked the color and texture. I stumbled onto this blue color by accident and thought it would add to the "other worldliness" of the scene.

You always have the best suggestions... I will blur the BG today or tomorrow. That's easy enough. I think a very thick fog filter would SOLVE the ash problem.

I don't know whether to try to make it look realistic or look like it was on another planet. What do you think? Try both....??

I really value your opinion,,,,not just your sense of humor! So, your suggestions are ALWAYS appreciated!

It's a good shot of the snag, really captures the textures. My family and I were there about the same time and the extent of downed timber and ash covered ground was phenomenal.

To clarify, i was thinking along the lines of how i would have approached the shot as a straight-forward nature photo (w/o the PS work); since the tree branches are reaching out to the left (as if being hit by the explosion to the right) i probably would have done everything i could (and ND filter maybe) to get some motion in the clouds so they convey the sense of a blast or fast movement in the horizontal direction. Thats why isuggested the blur. BUt i dunno--might look aweful, just gotta try it and it sounds like your game.
I havent been back there actually in about 7 years, but last time i was there it still looked pretty devestated--depressed the heck out of me seeing all those dead and downed trees. Course it made seeing all the elk pretty easy...