why ISO 1600? That is very high and the light appears not to be too lacking - if it was to get more light on the shaded trees I think the only way would be a tripod and a longer shutter speed- but then you run the risk of the foreground being too overexposed.
I think we're all thinking the same thing here. Why ISO 1600?
Remember that the higher your ISO, the higher the digital noise that enters into your image. If you were around in the film era, you would remember the beautiful ASA 25 slide films compared with the grainy ASA 400 -- it's the same idea.
Other comments I agree on:
The sky would be greatly improved with a polarizer.
Use a tripod -- there is no action in the image and the landscape isn't going anywhere. It also gives you more time to think through your composition.
You need something to draw the viewer's eye into the picture -- to make him want to look further.
And no, you're not annoying. Asking these questions with your examples is how you are going to get very good! Those that don't ask, don't learn. Keep shooting!