That was my thinking as I switched through these three: closer = loss of reflections but better viewer/subject engagement. Earlier ones seem a bit hazy upper left too. And I still find it incongruous that public places like this feature cactii. OTOH I can't see any nasty spikes - is this natural or is someone employed to keep removing them?

Nice symmetry and the gloom combined with the absence of people makes it eerily quiet. Everything's relative, but on the one hand you're feeling cold, and yet the palm trees look so healthy.

Good having Dave included for scale. How did you undertake the tracking?

At least he got it back. The flight logs should help decipher the nature of the crash.

Ha, Sprung! Beautiful face rendering.

https://youtu.be/BH1XZmtHBs4

I keep returning to this one too; the closer view allowing the face to dominate comfortably with all those warm, hairy tones. Lovely nose/eye focus. In fact, as I dwell on this one, I'm close to giving it my ribbon

This one for me. I think you've got subject competition in this set; the background light/shadows pulls so strongly, to me anyway. In this frame I find the slightly head-up pose more engaging, prompting me to wonder what's caught her attention, and that keeps my eye from drifting back to the plants. The window blues sit well this time.

Yeah/Nah, next door >> takes my prize.

I like it a lot too. Totally weird but thank goodness for such societal contributions. It's come up well for a "huge" crop.
Just starting to catch up. Was crook on last day and travelling home - just coming good.

Quite the view. You and I really live in different landscapes don't we?