APSC vs Full Frame? Image quality differences?

Now I'm definitely no expert, in fact I've only been shooting with a "proper camera" for a few months (A57). And I'm just getting the hang of Lightroom 4. But I would say that the photographer you linked to gets most of his images looking like that in PP. Both the skies and the foreground seem too colourful and equally exposed to come directly from the camera.

I've really found that Lightroom can correct this...here is an example of a shot I took the other day of a scene I like.

This first image is straight from the camera. Sky over exposed, foreground underexposed...leaving both parts very underwhelming. I've noticed the skies in alot of your shots are like this.

The second image is after lightroom processing. I brought the highlights down, increased the shadows, increased clarity, vibrance and numerous other sliders. But just by bringing the highlights down and moving the shadows up, and increasing contrast and saturation can bring them to life....can make a dull sky look so dramatic. I think the skies in your photos could do with decreased highlights etc....this would make them just as detailed as the photographer you linked to.

This was taken handheld with the kit 18-55 lens.

Your photos really are fantastic.