Before and After

Thanks Caspa -

We call that type of collage making “digital scrapbooking” but I like to divide the hobby into two types of scrapbooking - ones like that where the focus is on the photos telling a story and another kind I call “artsy” where the focus is on creating a piece of art and the photos are not the focus but a piece of the art’s design. 

It’s an interesting way to use your photos - give it a try. 

That is a man-made “lake”. Actually it’s a rain water retention pond We get some pretty heavy downpours and without these type of areas, flooding would occur. Some communities have indentations-a pit like thing and the water just drains away --- and some line them with plastic so the water does not drain and a lake forms. All the water is from rain, so you can only imagine how much flooding would occur without them. The communities get huge lot premiums from those of us who want to live on a “lake”

If I can throw my hat in the ring here caspa

Of course you may 

- and I preface my comments with the fact that I am not a photographer...can I just say that I prefer both your original photos to the altered ones.

I understand with the first one you were trying to introduce more drama into the image and in that regard I think you have been more than successful. Perhaps that’s the problem for me...too much drama.
As for the second image I think your original has a much warmer tone to it which shows off the colours and shadows in the image to advantage rather than the amended version.

Just my thoughts...