Don't be in a hurry. You have fulfilled the main requirement for creating a photo in the "subject" genre. I really like your first photo. And as for the minimalistic style, it is not always necessary and possible in this genre, because its task is to show the product, not the photo. "Minimalism" in this case is nothing more than an unjustified whim of the organizer of the contest.

We will fight for it again :)