For me, the sky and water make a nice photo and the sand dune makes another nice photo. It's almost as if there is a tale of two photos (apologetically borrowing from Dickens) that don't work well together.
Beautiful Andrew...My husband will say, Red skies in the morning, sailors' warning ...or something like that...
Nicely captured.
When taking the photo I saw the dunes as supporting characters to the sunrise. In the original the foreground was dim and I raised the shadows. Here is a version with the dunes left in the shadows. I wonder does this better define the sunrise as the subject or have I just lost my head thinking these two cities can coexist?
I prefer the second version but the image still appears too strongly for me as upper and lower halves that don't complement each other.
Consider cropping to eliminate the foreground fence. This gives the impression that the viewer is looking through the vegetation. It also positions the dune as a supporting rather than equal role and conveniently positions the brightest part of the sun according to the Rule of Thirds.
Although I appreciate other's opinions, I much prefer the original Andrew. If I were going to crop it at all, it would be to lose some of the sky for a wider aspect ratio.
For me, the colors and patterns complement each other quite nicely.
I also prefer the original posting. I agree with Frank about the complementing.
John
I wonder if perhaps the snow were to reflect a little of the sky colours, as it does on those rare occasion we get to see such brilliance of nature, it might have tied the overall picture together. Just a slight rose tint in line with that path between the Mariam. Maybe a case of art imitating the nature that could have been? I too prefer the first image.
Both are well taken and the the front allows me to associate as to the location , thus a beach the sky is the overpowering aspect in the photos. For my taste well done, now go have some fun with effects.
Lovely colors. Coming from a place that looks very similar (i.e.the dunes) it is quite comforting. No doubt some of the comments regarding composition are good ones. But for at least one viewer, just as it, it brings the blended smell of salt water and coffee and the feel of sand between the toes.
It is interesting that such lovely looking mornings most often portend a crappy day.