I like the harsh contrast here (esp between the true black of the leaves and the sky) even though I have no idea what the monument is. Nice shot, good luck with it.
I can see the effect you are going for here, but for me, it just doesn't do much. You've lost detail I would have like to see. I'm not saying you didn't do it intentionally, just that for me, it isn't very appealing.
Wonderful shot, full of atmosphere. I love the leaves at the top. Great composition. The burnt out sky is a very effective compositional element. Very nice use of contrast. 9