Autumn image

My penpal Mark Weise sent me this. I think it's nice and unusual, at first glimpse out of the corner of my eye, I thought it was a painting.

Mark made the dark version, based on how it looked.
I then adjusted to the lighter version, partly on habit, partly thinking of making it look good on the maximum number of monitors. (For example I have my monitor adjusted a bit darker these days, to save wear on the eyes.) But I admit it looses a little of the artistic specialness that way.

To illustrate, I also include one where I adjusted all the way. But while it is has more spark, I think this makes the picture too normal, lose the specialness.
It's hard to say, but I guess if looked upon as art, it all comes down to taste.