Scott and Isaac,
Thanks for your critiques on the oak.
Scott, I really don't see the image as a little flat. The oak in the background which echoes the shape of the oak in the foreground, being a bit lighter gives the image, to my eye, dimensionality. One of the reasons I photograph oaks is because of their strong shapes and wonderful texture. So, my intention was to emphasis these characteristics in this image. (I was using a newly acquired Zeiss lens and it is true... they do "paint".)
Isaac, I don't really see a problem with the "holes". I generally try to avoid blown out highlights, but there is no detail in the bright patches of sky and I think they add to the atmospherics of the image. It was shot early in the morning looking East.
Thanks,
Tom