Beginner Shot/Edit

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Doesn't look like PS has pulled off a smooth gradient in the first edit, so I think the original looks better.
The Chain however looks much better after the edit.

I much prefer your second edit to the first. The second one fixes the contrast and gives lovely rich tones - I think the first edit makes the lighthouse looked cooked like a lobster.

I don't know what's occurred but the lighthouse looks worse for being edited. The chain on the other hand looks better but it maybe on the border of being oversaturated. If it were me, I might just be tempted to clean the lighthouse up, it has marks on it which look like you are the guilty party but were there on the original.

If this was just C&C on the editing I'd go with the previous comments...lighthouse edit not too good, chain a bit better.
But the lighthouse picture itself could use re-thinking. Lighthouses are fascinating objects but the thing that draws me most is the light. If you were able to stand off a little and incorporate more of the building it would be a more effective shot for me.
Could you find a higher viewpoint maybe? Or use a different lens from further away. If you have to be that close maybe tilting the horizon would give it more drama...at present it just looks a little static and empty.

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Lovely, Mrs.van, those shots just shout "Lighthouse"!
Each of them is different in atmosphere. The first tells me about what the lighthouse does...it connects the sea and the land and suggests ships without needing to include them.
The second, to me, ties the lighthouse to the land and tells of the attraction the light has to people who like to come and see it.
The third gives a good indication of how this lighthouse has it's feet firmly planted in mother rock, and it isn't go anywhere in a hurry.
All in all a fine little series...and I really like your compositions. (Just check your horizons during PP)

Cool - it's the lighthouse from the show Haven.

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Cool lighthouse