This image was replaced in the Challenge with http://www.pbase.com/stfchallenge/image/53206043

What I did differently was used the available light on a different tree. The new tree was artifical so I cut branches off the real tree to put on the fake one. Mostly, I just kept shooting and uploading until I got the look I wanted. The light kept changing, so good thing the tree revolved.

What I found when I uploaded the shots are all the things we don't see while taking a photo. The shadow of the ribbon on her foot, the wing a little too shaded, a wire sprung from nowhere. If anything this was a learning experience in "seeing" and more importantly "looking"

As far as PP goes, I know almost nothing. I sharpened a little with USM and adjusted the levels slightly. Since I have started using my histogram, the use of levels has gone way down.