A creative dilemma!

Task: Capture a reflection of the daily time cycle's "magic glow". (Emphasis is given to sunrise.) 

I got up very early in the morning and headed to Lake Erie to catch the sunrise: soft colors, dawn's serenity and nature's whispers. What I got probably met all the specifications of the contest. Visually it is engaging, but it did not speak to me. Then I visited a dear friend (age 92), and together we paid a call to his wife of 64 years in a rehabilitation home. Their dependence on each other's affection, their devotion towards the other illuminated the moment. There was a magical, warm shine in the room as the clouds of saying good-by quickly covered their interaction. The mood penetrated my feelings a lot faster and more powerfully than seeing a pretty picture.

I submitted the photo taken at sunrise. It was not necessarily for the extra credit, rather for being safe. Now I have second thoughts. Perhaps I should have stuck to my first instinct and taken a chance on the power of emotion. What do you think?  

Leica M with Summilux 50 at ISO 350 set to f 8 / 360 sec. Processed in LightRoom, Photoshop, Topaz