Well worth the effort! Foreground cactus is beautifully backlit! !

Cool sunburst and I like the back light on the 'glowing' cactus.

the difference from where you live to here is amazing. Like Earth to Mars

Very good, reminds me of cracked glass.

Clever mirroring.

Agree with your post choice.

I have a feeling that B&W has robbed the water of some presence ...

He looks perturbed; hope he didn't fall off after you jumped him

So do I. Lovely leaf edge highlighting.

A big stretch - trying to become a sphinx. Great processing, all that diagonally aligned black is a dynamite match for M, N and the bright carpet.