thanks everyone for your input and suggestions. The walkway was bugging me, too, that’s why I wanted a taller vantagepoint to be able to get rid of it, but a crop will work in a pinch. Luckily I can always go back and reshoot this anytime since it’s like 10 minutes from the house.
There’s a new image in the OP with a crop and Diane’s suggestion of some darkening.