Breakfast:
The tipped picture bothers me because I immediately have a feeling that I am seeing an advertisement, and that make it impersonal. I think that if you had left the image straight, the gently diagonal line of the table’s edge would have added interest. (I would also have made that line pointing up to the right, not down to the right.) This photo looks extremely professional. I like how some of the oatmeal is in focus, while the oatmeal in the foreground fades gently out of focus.

Pinecone:
I agree with the instructor. I like that the leaf in the background provides a gently mottled yellow, not a solid color. I gives a soft warmth that I don’t think you could have achieved any other way.

Autumn:
The clear leaf just behind the berries feels distracting. That said, the blue against the red leaf is much better than blue against the greenish color in the background. I love the way the berries display several shades of blue. Each one has an individual character.

It’s too bad that you lost a couple days. I hope you find more time to shoot soon!

Allen