I agree. Those shots show some good potential, but I was a little curious about the lighting.
Now, as to criticism, everyone gets to have an opinion, and nowhere is it written that said opinions need to match yours. Nowhere is it written either that you need to give the opinions of others more credence than yours. It depends on what these 'critics' have to say, and whether or not you believe that what they have to say has merit. I've often said that if you're shooting for a client, then the client gets to decide what the final image looks like. If you're shooting for yourself, you get to decide what the final image looks like. If someone says, "I don't like it", that's not a criticism, that's an opinion. They don't have to like it. If someone says, "Have you considered..." that's a critique. Critiques can sometimes be harsh, but they can also open doorways to ideas that you may not have considered. Think also of the alternative: if nobody says anything, they may feel that you work isn't worth commenting on. My 2¢.
Mike.