this looks as if it was a beautiful image when you first took it (even with the dirt on your sensor).
Looking at the comments you have received it is clear that you have been marked down for two reasons.
The first is that many voters feel you did not meet the challenge of Colour on Colour. This is feedback that you should take very seriously. If you want to do well on DPC it is important to make sure that it is clear that have met the challenge.
The second is that the image is too grainy and the contrast is too heavy. Their problem is that the picture does not look natural. You have not listed your post-processing steps so I cannot comment directly on what you have done. I am inclined to agree that too much contrast has been applied.
I hope my comments help and Good Luck in future Challenges!
Color on color... a stretch to meet the challenge, but i'll give you a barely there on challenge.
But the post processing KILLS this photo. What should be serene and beautiful is instead grainy and harsh. The trees look like they spent the summer at 3 mile island. :)
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
