Composition Assignment

I took these 11 pictures for a composition project in digital photography. In this lesson, I learned how to:
-Take pictures with certain elements that makes pictures appear even more enhanced.
-Work photoshop and the camera "properly."
-Manually adjust certain settings, such as white balance or exposure to follow certain rules of composition.
-How to use the rule of thirds and make more "professional" pictures.

I struggled a lot on:
-A composition called "balance." I didn't know where to find objects that seem to balance each other.
-Taking clear pictures, as I always shake and the pictures usually turn out blurry.
- Taking pictures using the rule of thirds; although I knew what to do, I simply couldn't take decent pictures.
-Taking pictures using the rule of symmetry; I knew what it was, but I had trouble trying to find examples of it at school or at home. (Even doors weren't completely symmetric!)

Overall, I had a lot of fun with my first photography assignment. I especially liked:
-Taking pictures using the element of texture and the clear look of it.
 -Playing with the color settings and make the pictures appear slightly vibrant, or make the object look more enhanced by toning down the background.
-The idea of being able to apply these skills to future pictures I take in or outside of school.