Note how the mid-ground of the water changes (color, shape, rocks, sunlight, etc). These are all in flux until the end. A key part of this painting was having the back area of the forest stay dark, but not as dark as the photo shows.
Try changing smaller elements in your painting without deviating from the larger design. In this example Christine takes the silver-tone mid-rocks in and out, also the main bar of sunlight. The upper shoreline remains the same with an overall simpler composition.