Minimalist of a beach

While these are both interesting and I usually like a landscape crop better, the second image seems to have a little something extra. I love it. I think the longer crop allows for a great pattern in the water. The people are a great accent here too.

While I know you're thinking of minimalism here, Jeremy, I think the figures do add something very worthwhile. And, like Ruth, I find the second one most satisfying - something to do with the gradation of the sand patterns from the foreground blobs, becoming finer in the distance. I also like that relatively large expanse of water, which adds to the minimalist feel, and has an airy quality for me. Good job!

One of the few "rules" that I was taught way-back-when that served me in pretty good stead was that a good print contained a pure black, no matter how small, and a pure white, also no matter how small. I've always found that ignoring that was perilous. Of course, I have ignored that rule often enough along with the "rule of thirds," but they are worth keeping in mind.