The pelican shot just needs proper PP to bring out it's details. (my re-edit is a little hars working with the smaller shot.)



The landscape has a composition that I would give a C+ I would venture to say that given the charactor of the rocks a little more flattering composition could have been found.

Exposure is WAY beyond the Dynamic Range of the camera and a prime candidate for a Digital blend. Or....shot the scene in less harsh light. The foreground with the smattering of beach fodder kinda distracts the eye.

One of the things I do when I see somthing that catches my eye...is I start looking to isolate exactly what it was that caught it. You cannot take a sucessful landscape shot till you have that figured out. Then you have to figured out how you want to present it. If your photo is to have order and depth...you need a solid anchor for the foreground....an eye leading middle ground that is dynamic and leads your eye through the photo in a pleasing geometric way....and the background.

A smoother Dynamic range transistion would lead the eye more pleasingly from front to back.

This site has pleanty of potential....if you live in the area...I would revisit in the early morning or later evening when the light is softer....and try to really read the scene and see what captured your attention so you can tell your story.

Roman