Well I couldn't really do anything of what you suggested, I'll explain:


Getting lower - couldn't do that as there was some kind of wall which I was leaning on and put my camera on it using my homemade beanbag, so I was already at the lowest level I could be at.


Zooming - I wish I had a 70-200 with me, but all I have right now is the 17-85 and these were all shot at 85mm.


Cropping - these are already cropped. Yes I have 15mp to work with, but I think that if I cropped more then the pictures wouldn't be very sharp. I'll post in a few moments a 100% crop or close to that to show you.


Early morning light - I agree, but I don't like getting up early [:P], and besides, I went to the park with friends for a BBQ not taking photos, but of course I took the camera with me and took few shots (if ~100 is "few" haha).


Thinking about the background - yes I try to do that but most of the time when you are taking the shot you either forget to do that or don't have time... and there is a third option actually - there's noting you can do to change the background - It was a small place surrounded by walls so I couldn't do much to change the background.


Get a boat - lol it was actually a small place with walls around it as I said, so you can't go there with a boat.


Adding a CPL - you are right, but I still don't have one []