New and looking for cc

[CDickey]

This is my second post and I would like to get some tips on how I can improve my photos. I'm not a pro but enjoy photography so I want to do it well. Here are a few of my shots.

The first is my dog shot with my 30D w/50mm f/1.8 shot in monochrome. The second is shot with the same set up plus an ND and polarizing filter.

[Chris71]

I like them both, I would have liked the first one better I think if the crop wasn't so tight.

[PETERSYMES]

I like the first shot but would be tempted to do some more post processing.
I would take out the distracting highlights in the background and push the black levels to get a bit more punch in the contrast, you might be a bit limited on this if you shot it Mono on the camera, the image is also rather noisey, was it shot at high ISO?
With the lighthouse i really like the composistion but find it too dark and red, maybe needs a touch, but just a touch of rotation clockwise to straighten up the lighthouse.
Perhaps it would benefit from the highlight and shadow tool in PS to get some details back and add a little unsharp mask. The way the boardwalk leads the eye up to the lighthouse is really good.

[CDickey]

Great input. Thanks for the tips. Now all I have to do is learn how to use photoshop efficently.

[fireman93514]

The light house could be lightened up a bit as pPeter says. But thats a personal view, some like a little more moosiness in thier shots. I think I would have moved the lighthouse more to the left and cut out the garage. It is a bit too centered.

[Reeforbust]

I really like #1 but I wish the focus was on the eyes more....Looks like it is on the bridge of the nose..

[bbulldog]

I agree not enough DOF in the first one. Why did you use f1.8?

[Tee Why]

The first one is nice and has more untapped potential in my view. I'd consider straightening it out but doing that will make the crop a bit too tight. I'd also recommend burning in the background and slightly lightening up on the eyes, which are nicely in focus to draw the attention more to the eyes and less to the lighter background.

The second shot seems technically off with some CA or noise on the railing. It seems a bit too soft and the horizon is tilted. The leading lines to the tower is nice but I find it a bit too centered and shot at eye level which does not add to the shot.
I'd recommend maybe lower angle and include the railings more for to make the really lead into the tower.