Winter Awakening

Welcome to NPN. I think you will find a most helpful place to grow your photographic abilities. One of the most helpful ways is to critique other images, just by writing what you like or don't like about the image, in a nice way of course. I like the composition of this image. You have handled the light well for a single image. The only way I know to handle the difference in contrast, especially around the direct sunlight is to shoot multiple exposures and combine them in post processing to get an even exposure. The other think that would help would be a graduated neutral density filter when you shoot the image. That way you could bring the exposure levels closer together. You are processing in lightroom and it has a graduated neutral density filter to help with this situation. You did a nice job on the sun star.

Welcome to NPN. Nice sun star. As Richard pointed out, your highlights in the sky are a bit bright but it's a lovely view and you've done a great job for a single shot.

Welcome to NPN Crystal, and beautiful first post. Composition looks very nice. Sunstars can be controversial, some folks like them some don't. Personally, I like them, and yours is good. The blown out area isn't objectionable to me, I would leave it alone. I hope you become a regular contributor.

This is really a nice image, I mean really nice, even with the blown out area above the sunstar. I especially love the detail in the foreground snow. You've done an admirable job with post processing - the color balance is ideal, and the DOF is the way it should be.
Unfortunately, when there is no detail available, as is probably the case here, there is nothing you can do. Trying to correct it would most likely result in something less than desirable. Always remember to check your histogram, and in shots like this, there's always time to bracket. Make it a habit to bracket anytime possible in the future. 2 or 3 stops over and 2 or 3 stops under. You never know when a darker or brighter area from another shot can help improve the one you're working on. Blending is a skill one should definitely be comfortable with in this digital age. Good luck in the future.

I'm new to NPN too, I'm here to learn, in my view F22 certainly emphasised the sunburst. Sure was no need for that aperture otherwise. It's a nice shot it makes me wish I was going skiing tomorrow here in the French Alps instead of going to work on a Saturday.

Nice! I love the atmosphere and light. Good job with the sunstar as well.

I have two thoughts on this...
(1) In this case (especially after viewing the large version), I'd say the blown highlights aren't a deal breaker at all. The scene looks quite natural as to how one would actually see it while standing there. However...
(2)...Seeing it is nice to have the detail in the image, I would probably have taken at least one other exposure for the sky, and maybe even a third exposure at a smaller f-stop number (f/16, maybe?) to get the actual landscape as sharp as possible (although it appears quite sharp already).

Anyways, great first post (to say the least), and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your images! Welcome to NPN!

Welcome to NPN Crystal and a very nice first post. Nice sunstar and good handling of the bright sky. Looks very natural to me and really nice mist in the back round. Great job on this.

Nice composition, Crystal. The misty blues work very well. Welcome to NPN

Welcome to NPN and the landscape forum Crystal. I really like your image. The cool blue tones contrast nicely with the warm sunstar and fog. The sunstar looks good to me and the bright area above the sunstar doesn't bother me too much. The only way to control that much contrast would be to use a GND filter or to blend multiple bracketed exposures.