Alan, I absolutely love this image. The sharpness and the electricity in the foreground stems contrasts so beautifully with the abstracted, out of focus background with those thick ropes of what I assume are also weeds. Very effective and very moving in a way I would never expect to feel. I understand Doyle's comment, but I actually find the blown highlights add to the overall effect. Thanks for a great image.
I liked the v2 on this . . . here you have a good DOF but the shot lacks some impact never-the-less. The BG bokeh admits vertical lines into the composition which echo the subject making the whole (IMO) a bit static. Left stalk seed area seems a tad blown out with a lack of detail too. A unique image and one to try for . . . but the second version blows this one away!
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{K:101119} 1/19/2007