I do have a powerful/easy trick (actually not a "trick" but an advanced blending technique few know about) to remove the indication of graduated adjustments (darkness on the tops of the rocks) likie on your first image, without resorting to things more crude or damaging like dodging... I teach it via Skype (its too long to explain here). It blows peoples minds every time I teach it.
Klaus, as I kept looking at #2, I noticed that a reflection on the right is meant to be from some large red round object, perhaps, Sun that is covered by clouds in your picture.
