The sky is a bit overwhelming for this to be a picture about the tree. The tree appears to be coincidental in this shot. But regardless, beautiful picture - 10.
I wish the sky was clear (it would be a good use for negative space image) now the sun distract us from the important subject for this contest...Maybe u could have crop the lower part of the photo. If the contest theme wasn't specified I would give it a ten but now...
Neat job with the dodge and burn, although a bit dark in spots. Not so much a focus on the tree but the rules only said one needed to be there. Love the texture!