My 1st post here

Nothing wrong with working from photos, providing that you use them as a reference point and not painstakingly copy them, and preferably your own photos! It is not cheating in any way… Don’t restrict yourself just for the sake of it. Better still, get out and about with sketchbook and paints, and draw what is in front of you, that’s the best way to progress your art! You’ll end up with more realistic looking compositions than I’m seeing here… This is primarily a website for amateur painters, there are a small number among us who have gone through a college degree course but in the main, the majority are amateur painters.  So, you’re unlikely to get the detailed critique that you are looking for on this site, and I can’t think of any other sites either that could help you here! Enroll yourself in an evening college painting course perhaps, and receive help and critique from a tutor. I could spend a lot of time myself going through you work, and I’m adequately trained to advise you, but it’s time consuming and to date, you haven’t offered up any real analysis yourself on how you want to progress your art journey… You could post your work on the gallery, there’s a bigger audience there and you will get comments!

You're not being rude, it's entirely understandable that you seek advice from those qualified to give it.  Whether I'm one of those or not you'll have to work out for yourself - unlike Alan, I don't have art college training; I do have over 50 years of experience, and I have sold (note past tense - though still do sometimes: and - I'm available!).   Working from photographs is perfectly fine if they're your own photographs, and you combine them with sketches - working from someone else's photos is pointless: all the serious work has already been done for you - the composition, the choice of subject.  You can nearly always tell if someone has done that. The points about aerial perspective have already been made, and rather than run on at great length (which I'm too inclined to) I'll just add two points: one, have a think about contrast - tonal contrast, dark and light, chiaroscuro, all that - you're relying on your skill with the brush and thick paint to give you a rather monotone series of paintings; two, draw - draw and keep drawing, with charcoal, pencil, carbon, conté crayon, ink, anything - run washes of colour and pastel over your drawings; explore shape, examine the topography of the area you're painting.  Remember Michaelangelo's advice, "designa, Antonio, disegna Antonio, disegna e non perder tempo" (apologies to Italian scholars, I expect I've made mistakes with that; but I put it in that way so I could repeat it: Draw Antonio, draw Antonio, draw and do not lose/waste time).  Think of Ingres' point that "drawing is the probity of art" - if you can draw it, you can paint it: but the reverse is not necessarily true and drawing will improve your painting by enhancing your vision and imagination. Finally, yes, join a group with an excellent tutor; see if a professional artist whose work you admire might take you on as a student (but don't let them dictate style to you); read books; buy instructional dvd's; visit YouTube - but with care: it abounds with rotten painters who presume to try to teach, but there are good ones too: Andrew Tischler, Chris Fornatero (aka Paint Coach), among a good many others.    Once you combine your skills with a brush and thick paint with sound drawing, grasp of contrast, colour (aerial) perspective, you'll soar into the stratosphere.  There's just that bit of work needed before you get there. 

ISound advice from my esteemed colleague… I should have added, although most of the painters on here are amateur in status, there are many with a lifetime’s wealth of expertise and knowledge that is invaluable, and well worth listening to! And another idea, join an art group, get mixing with other artists and enjoy all that these invaluable clubs can offer… including quality tutoring if you join the right group! I can see glimpses of good potential in this style of painting, but it needs work, and that starts with the basics as Robert has said, as as I said in my first post, … aerial perspective, linea perspective and the all important tonal values - disciplines that are easily learned, but so often overlooked… ignore them at your peril!

Heh, I fully understand that - but not looking realistic doesn't necessarily mean you want it to look unrealistic - there's a balance to be struck; and anyway, drawing is always good whether you're after realism or not; it also helps to train the eye and hand muscles.  Come to think of it - I'd better buzz off and so some...