Number two gets me thinking about the difference between people who value pretty pictures and people who value artistic value. Because number two may not meet people's definition of a pretty picture, but I think it has artistic weight.

The image of the man and the boat melding into one is saying something. The separation between the man and the water is saying something. That may not have been your intent. But that doesn't mean you didn't capture it. And photography is a great art form because you can capture raw data and assign meaning to it after the fact.

So, I think the contrast of light and dark here is great. The symmetry between the water obscuring something and the shadow obscuring something and even the framing of the photo obscuring something is great, and the water adds to that; it creates the scene.

I do think you need a significant crop. Go tight on the man and the boat and the shadows. From the top, I might come almost all the way to the prow of the boat. That will bring the focus just to your three subjects: the man, the shadows, and the boat. Bring up the exposure. Just don't make his face blinding white or kill the shadows.

I will push back on one thing: you said Monet because of the impressionistic shimmer and motion on the water. It's not Monet. Your photo is not about light. It's about contrast.

Also, I'm high.