A vignette (you make good use of them) is another way of directing our gaze and it works spectacularly here without distracting too much attention from the trees. Love it... and I'd love it even more if the guy was moving towards the camera. Fav anyway!
Superb shot, great processing as well - it really draws the eye in. It also brings back memories of those UK winters where its still and calm and cold just seeps in to the bone...gee, thanks