Dan,
One thing I've noticed about your images is that they are very well named. In effect, the name of the image becomes an integral part of the compostion. In this case, naming the image "balance," causes the viewer to look at the relationships between the elements in the compostion. Anytime you can get the viewer to examine the relationship between different elements, you are well on your way to a "successful" image. I found myself not only looking at the visual "balance" between the elements, but also thinking about the physical aspects of their balance, and the interplay between these elements in a much larger balance of life. If that was your intention when composing the image, you were very successful.
One of the techniques I recommend to workshop participants is to name their images BEFORE they snap the shutter. This enables them to "verbalize" and better understand their intentions with taking the image, and allows them to adjust the compositional elements in their image to better convey their message.
I've enjoyed your images you have posted and would love to see more.
Keith