For me it is a good shot, but i miss something more striking in the picture, maybe a crop a bit more out of center or a disturbing object.

I really like this shot. I think the contrast between the subject and background works well. Good job!

Thanks a lot for all your comments. It's interesting that your opinions vary so much.
This picture was taken at my parents' home, there's a window on the right side which couldn't be shaded. So it would have been impossible to get an even lighting of the background.

special and fine!

I wouldn't have noticed the variance in light until it was mentioned, and it makes sense. I love the simplicity of this image and that it makes me wonder about the rest of the room and what it may look like.

This cute little snail is sitting on my thumb. And my hands are quite small ;)

It is scary and it looks like the face of a hairy monster, it's intruiging

Cool.. It does look like a very blured photo of a gorilla with it's mouth open and growling. grr :)

I think we're all on the same page on this one. Great shot...looks like miffed gorilla taking his/her revenge. You can almost see hair on its chest, and the impression of a clavicle. Nice, scary work, anke!

I have to say, I don't get this. Makes me wonder about the catagorie.

I like this picture!

Intersting view!

This is an interesting subject with a good use of monochrome. I would perhaps prefer to see it a little sharper in the mid-frame.

I think that find a symmetry after so many years and of abandonment is interesting, at the same time the photograph becomes static for me. On my screen, the sky is rosy, and I find that you give it too much importance …, On the other hand the B&W is well controlled and pleasant. Good continuation.

Anke,

For me, this is not static - beautiful capture - love the atmosphere you have created for us.

Best,
Jon

That is incredible. What was your setup? Seems that this would be so tough to take... Great job.

Immpressive macro.

Thank you! It was a mere snapshot - I didn't believe it would turn out so good :)

I took the photo with my ordinary Lumix DMC-LS3, no special equipment.

haha, yikes! This shot really stands out! Good job.

I have been shooting many Tipulidae crane flies, but never under this particular angle, excellent !

I like reflections shots like this and hope to take more in the coming year. I like seeing the wide variety of things that people find that have a reflective surface.

Great moment to capture! IMO that blur around the edges is little distracting, could have been little bit more subtle. Good shot !!!

amazing that you captured the moment. I think you could crop in a little tighter at the top. Love this.

Love this photo.. Very elegant. Coodos to you.

Thank you! Well, I'm not quite sure about the blur and the cropping, I guess I'll try some variations.

like it, very dreamy..
would be good in B&W I think?
It's like the swan is aware of you taking the pic :)

très bien composé avec ces diagonales et les perles de mouches sont superbes sur cette souris. Je crois que je ne vais pas déjeuner tout de suite

Beautiful picture and postprocessing, but the frame should have been more discreet IMHO.

I like the border style of this photo... It's good with the picture ! And good post-processing on the picture !

This is very nice, I wish the neck and tuning knobs of the violin held more detail...

I really like this. Well worked.

Very interesting post-processing. I would like to learn it