Thoughts?

Looks ok as an environment. Just nothing in particular to draw focus anywhere.

looking good but have to agree with pauljs it needs somethng more to draw the eye.

Jason, I'd drop the camera down to almost floor level, so the viewer is almost looking up to give a more interesting pov. Then maybe add some more details outside the buildings to make it look like someone lives there. Things like pots and pans etc. 
Alternatively you could try a different approach by having the buildings either side of a path. So the eye is drawn along the path towards the rock formations beyond the dwellings.

AWATA [AgreeWithAllTheAbove]..Plus I'd pull the camera back a bit and maybe move everything around a bit to take advantage of the contrast 'tween the straight lines of the adobe houses and the wildly organic shapes of the mojo-esque shapes in the background.. ...

and a little postwork in Photoshop (if you're really in an Adobe mood...;)

Quote - Jason, I'd drop the camera down to almost floor level, so the viewer is almost looking up to give a more interesting pov. Then maybe add some more details outside the buildings to make it look like someone lives there. Things like pots and pans etc. 
Alternatively you could try a different approach by having the buildings either side of a path. So the eye is drawn along the path towards the rock formations beyond the dwellings.

The details are somewhat there (more noticeable in full size) ... a couple baskets in front of left adobe and a pitcher and dish in front of the right adobe.

Quote - and a little postwork in Photoshop (if you're really in an Adobe mood...;)

Unless it's a quick filter, my Photoshop skills are non-existent. lol

*"if you're really in an Adobe mood...;)"

Got me there...green tea all over my mouse pad...LOL...managed to miss the keys this time.. ...

Oh yeah sorry Jason, my powers of observation ain't too good lol!

sorry...as much as I have to load Adobe Photoshop at work, it gets on the brain...;)

I think you are missing the general foreground clutter.  Stuff like a clump of dried grass here and there.   Rocks as well scattered about.  Maybe make a small terrain and texture it differently maybe to represent a grassy mound or sandy area.   What time period is being represented here?  If horse and buggy, then maybe a trough and a hitching rack?

Maybe the picture needs something to give it action?

• Buzzards flying in a circle in the distant sky?

• People walking maybe a horse or two? a Dog?  making it look like a busy town?

• or break the pots and have a tavern sign on the ground to give an abandoned look.

• Switch it into a Night time scene and have candle glow coming out of the windows/doors of the sctructure.

What a great looking donkey.  I can see Jacob Walz getting his provisions for another trip into the Superstition Mountains to work his now famous Lost Dutchman Mine.

Quote - What a great looking donkey.  I can see Jacob Walz getting his provisions for another trip into the Superstition Mountains to work his now famous Lost Dutchman Mine.

Thanks. I live near the Superstition Mountains.  

Me too.  I can see them out my window.  Have you ever seen the grizzly bear that stalks across the front face of the mountain?  Some say it is just the play of light and shadow across natural rock formations.  However in years past,  making shadow signs to mark the way to the Kings treasure was well practiced among the Spaniards here on his behalf.  I believe that in far more ancient days King Solomon had his miners here as well.  The treasure was secreted at Victorio Mountain in New Mexico before making the journey back to the old world.