Fishing at Hooper's Island, critique requested

I'm debating finally entering a local photography contest that I've watched for a couple years now. You can enter 3 photos for the single entry fee, so if I"m going to enter, I want to go ahead and enter 3. Besides the challenges we do on here, I've never entered a contest before, and, to be honest, I'm a bit intimidated. Maybe it's not time for this yet, but I'm at least considering it for the first time. I could use some help/advice/guidance/opinion/critique! Are these any good? Are they contest worthy? Is there something I can do to improve them? You get the drift....

This is one that I'm considering submitting, taken in June of this year.

Here is the link to this photo festival: https://www.wardmuseum.org/SpecialEvents/ArtinNaturePhotoFestival/WinnersList/tabid/720/Default.aspx

The others that I'm considering are here, and yes, you've seen them before! But I'd love it if you would look at them thru different eyes!

http://365project.org/shesnapped/365/2015-07-20
http://365project.org/shesnapped/365/2015-07-22
http://365project.org/shesnapped/365/2015-07-23
http://365project.org/shesnapped/365/2015-07-24

[Kim]

Love the orange tones in this. I'm curious how this would look with the top 1/3 or 2/3 cropped, but then I guess one would be left wondering where the reflection on the water came from. Just an amateur opinion. It's great that you are challenging yourself to enter the contest!

[Jane Pittenger]

At our camera club, you'd lose points with the blown out sun. The color and composition are wonderful but I would crop below the sun

[Ashley]

@jgpittenger Good to know Jane! Thank you!

[Ashley]

@genealogygenie Kim, based on what Jane said, that might would be what had to be done in order to enter this one! Hmmmm, maybe those comments take this one out of the running. Thank you for critiquing!

[Jane Pittenger]

I think it would work well cropped just below the sun

[Richard Hickey]

Incredible sunset.

[Babs]

I'd crop out the sun too, it is burnt out and doesn't add to the photo. Sunset shots always look better in my opinion once the sun has actually set and you just have the glow in the sky.

[Lira]

This is a beautiful shot... And I agree... I'd crop out the sun. It takes away from the photo.

[Joan Robillard]

I entered a photo at the fair several years ago and won 5th place but haven't had the time to figure it out lately. It is mostly about dipping your toes in the water. Your pictures are worthy of entering. I would not put two Sunset pictures in and I prefer the one with the birds and you know I love the bw. I feel that is the one that will make you stand out.

[Ashley]

@joansmor Thank you Joan! I like the bird sunset the best of the two also. I'm thinking that sunset, the full moon, and the b&w. I know the sun is blown out and will likely lose points, but my main goal this time is to jump the hurdle and enter. That will be an accomplishment all by itself! Dh and I went back to Cove Beach last night, and I reshot the b&w paying attention to the critiques I received on it. I'll post those shots today and hopefully get some more feedback on which might be a good one to post. Thanks so much for taking the time to offer guidance!!!