Setting a scene (pics)

Is there really anything more important to a beautiful shot than the proper setting? This is a serious question. I'm not waxing poetic here, I really would like opinions.

I happen to think that when a director is really looking to make a wide shot hit home, he/she/it needs to keep in mind that a setting at the right time with just the right light is going to move an audience as much as any dialogue or action.

In attempting to learn how this works, Chris suggested that I spend some quality time with a still camera looking for just the moments. That's what I've done here.
I'm really a little proud of these images. They represent the first time I really started working on getting "the eye."

What I really want to promote here, however, is the concept that working with different tools than one would normally use can lead to real learning about how to make the familiar tools work a little differently.

As always, feel free to comment.