That is something I'll have to try David. The sky was giving me fits !
I was messing around with the same thing ( the sky ) and was just about to post my latest try when I saw yours.
I made all the enhancements and then as the last step I used Darla's Blue Sky Gradient.
I selected by color the sky and the used the color from the original.
It has adjustments for color gradient top to bottom but I went with just a single color.

David: How did you rid of the pole in front of the left upper section of the building?

Pat625,
I used the clone tool. The top part I used the sky next to it as a source. Where it crossed the roof I used the line of the tiles to extend them across the pole. The edge of the roof I cloned sideways across the pole and similarly where the pole was in front of the wall.

All a bit fiddly, but if you zoom in it is not too difficult. One small step at once and if its not quite correct Ctrl Z will undo the damage! (I do that frequently!)

david.

These pictures are around the monastery.

I applied it- tone maping- corrected levels - contrast - luma invert .

I've been trying the one with the water off and on most of the day without much luck.
I don't remember all what I did on this try but a mask on the dark part of the water, Beautify Smart Colors and then G'MIC Details Inverse sharpening.
I like yours better Issabella.
The other was mask on DDD for the tree trunk, added contrast and sharpening.

my try on the "fountain"
- unsharp mask
- duplicate, mode=multiply
- applied a curve on the top layer to adjust effect on dark/light areas

...and on the trees

- contrast
- duplicate, desaturate luma, mode Burn
- lights : 95,20,15,1,0.5,Transparent, mode Addition
- duplicate twice
- on the first produced lights later: Colorize 120, 100, 20, set Opacity = 80%

another try on the trees
- duplicate
- desaturate average, mode=Multiply
- lights (output new layer) 90, 20, 15, 1, 0.5, Transparent; mode Normal
- colorized the latter as before 120, 100, 20
- added a new transparent layer where applied a gradient radial, mode Softlight



I like it better

Not bad!

What I do is an alpha to color of black on the light-ray layer and a color curve with alpha selected.
Pulling the curve down a bit.
To get my base light-ray layer.

dinasset,
I also prefer your second try at the "tree" picture - it is very effective. However, what has caused the slight "banding" in the radial gradient?

Issabella,
My try at your latest photographs. Done late at night, after a busy day, so I may need to have another attempt!

The spring, which I have called "water":
A Luminosity Mask to try to bring more detail out of the water, overall curve to limit the brightest parts and wavelet sharpening. (No smooth areas on either of these pictures to show noise!)

The other picture: I treated the fireplace as the main feature. I used a mask to bring out the textures of the stone (and the tree trunk), slight adjustment to colours, cropped and sharpened.

(Both pictures scaled.)

david.

David, the "banding" is wanted, I used a banded gradient (one of those many Mandelburb gradients).
Banding also happens in the light...

edit: banding can be improved by using a different gradient

I find your results so beautiful. There is much harmony in all your photos. I have so much to learn.

Issabella,
You also produce beautiful results and we all have much to learn.

I decided to have another try at one of the photographs, but this time make the tree the star of the show!
Much playing with masks, blur, gradients, colours.........

david.

Thank you so much David.
The tree is really beautiful in your outcome.

I post these photos so that you all can play on them.

Thanks Odin, beautiful colours in your effect. I like it.

Harbour photograph: I drew a mask so that I could bring out the reflections in the water - fairly hard edge by quay and rocks, very diffuse where it had to blend into the water.
Mask DD to lighten the darkest parts of the image. A little cleaning up (scaffolding etc.) Cropped to move the horizon above centre. Slight increase in saturation.
Probably increased noise, but sharpened to bring out detail in buildings and stone.

The ships wake: I decided to be silly!

david.

just to do something a bit different
-playing with curves