The background black needs to be all evenly darkened. Now you can see all kind of things if you turn your monitor a bit (having a portable that is).

I think it would work better being off center.

Trying to see the clear focal point. I think the red gives a nice contrast to the black background but not sure if it works in conjuction with the rest of this composition. The foreground burned match is lost with the dark background. Maybe it should still be lit and have the orange glowe more evident, dunno...

Nice concept and good colors. I almost wish the background matches were slightly more in focus, but that might just be me.

Cheers,
Aaron

@Patrick
The all kind of things you can see are the result of the smoke of the burned matches! I totally agree that it should be all even.

@mrhollow
I used close up filters and they eat away any depth of field.

nice one

It's a good idea and a good capture but I think the composition needs some improvement as it seems a bit too centered. Maybe if this was shot from an angle off to one side it might be stronger.

Great DOF and colour. I agree with comments about composition. You can do great stuff with matches.

Very nice idea and good use of selective focus.
Carlos

nice... the dof is too strong imo... nice try though

I like the concept but my mind really wants to see below the crop at the bottom. The bottom crop seems very abrupt to me. I'm sure you had your reason to do this as you are the only one who saw what was below.I like the colors and blurred background matches.

@ MsMichelleLynn:
I cropped it like this for two reasons!
The first one is related to the way I "glued" the matches to the platform. I used a sticky yellow stuff (http://www.master194.com/encyclo/patafix/patafix2.jpg) and it doesn't match the composition at all. The second reason is related to this as well, the matches were falling all the time so I had to rotate it a little and lost a bit of the bottom part.

...dah... excuses...dah... LOL

I really like this one.... but agree with the others about the comp

A good way of spending time.... Nice outcome

PS How do you get your smilies to look like they are jumping around with joy? Its really cute

Sometimes I feel like that!! I agree on the compo comments!

Nice work. I like your pad lock, it's great.