This harmonizes with your entry "Variations on a Chromatic Scale" in the music challenge. They both include a very clever hot-spot punched in the rule of thirds both horizontal and vertical. Full of texture and history like always. I like the bold frame and I think it makes a good balance to this peaceful shot.
returning for comments:
While i find the vertical crack distracting, I am more attractive to it because it is indeed rare to find such a condition existing. Good sepia tone. Bumping up.
I like how the eye follows the stairs to the top. Perhaps you might have given it a traget once it gets there? A person perhaps, or another pile of leafs.
this just looks really nice, the way the leaves are piled makes a cool pattern, good job spotting it, one of my favorites thus far...8..just cuz it looks a little oversharpened to me
Wow! What a brilliant composition. I love the way the random leaves and the rigid steps combine AND the vertical line is genius. A real example of how form can shift the eyes around an image. In my favourites...you should be proud of this shot.