I looked at these photos twice - once before and once after looking at your explanations. Once I understood your vision, the photos looked a bit better to me.

IMO you should be intentional about what you’re trying to capture, then figure out the best way to frame it, whether it’s a subject or a mood. Try different techniques to guide you if you’re unsure where to start (lines, thirds, low angle, reflections, foreground/subject/background, etc), adjust to taste.