Photoshop contest - pink candle

worked on this for a total of about 3 hours and i am happy with the result but i welcome constructive criticism to help this piece improve :)

please comment

(candle in hand and inside tulips)
(hi-res available)

it seems you need an account to view my source so i have had to put up the page where it is kept without an account.. the picture is called "Tulip Row" and it is on the bottom row on the page my source takes you to.

robvdn [lvl 12] [vp 1000] [ 72]:

1. I need an account to check the source.

2. It all looks so blurry, at least the focus points. The BG on the other hand looks to sharp. Maybe if you can switch this around it will look much better.
(55 days ago)

author:

thankyou, source image has been changed.. unfortunately you have to sign up to see it full res
(55 days ago)

kymbryonic [lvl 2] [vp 1000] [ 25]:

very beautiful might be a bit more striking if kid's face/torso wasn't quite so blurry
(55 days ago)

blaine2nd [lvl 4] [vp 478] [ 3]:

I love this image. Nice colors and concept. I agree with the others if you can clear up the boy this work be world class in my book. Nice job. It almost looks like you used the light filter. I would just try the dodge and manually manipulate the lighting.
(52 days ago)

step 1	step 2	step 3	step 4	step 5
step 6

sources used for this entry:

• 1: Tulip Row (at bottom of page)

final score: 48.5 %

votes placed: 213

submitted: 55 days ago

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tags:TwilightTulips

This is four Generations of my partners family, all the pictures are hers and I have permission to use them.

krunchy11 [lvl 6] [vp 836] [ 26]:

The pictures melded well into the image - Looks like something you would give as a gift to a grandparent etc.
(51 days ago)

step 1

final score: 48.4 %

votes placed: 180

submitted: 51 days ago

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tags:FourGenerations

sharks created by using flame

Arlo [lvl 12] [vp 2000] [ 133]:

Nice idea, but it all seems blurred.
(53 days ago)

kymbryonic [lvl 2] [vp 1000] [ 25]:

nice idea but kinda blurry
(53 days ago)

rorof [lvl 1] [vp 0] [ 4]:

LOL nice. But the candle looks really blurry
(52 days ago)

sources used for this entry:

• 1: source1

final score: 47.9 %

votes placed: 205

submitted: 54 days ago

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tags:firesharksonmission

No outside source used.

kymbryonic [lvl 2] [vp 1000] [ 25]:

what is the "reverse" part of the "reverse candle"
(53 days ago)

rominique [lvl 2] [vp 0] [ 0]:

wow thats a really cool idea, though the dripping should go upwards ...
(53 days ago)

rorof [lvl 1] [vp 0] [ 4]:

???
(52 days ago)

final score: 46.8 %

votes placed: 199

submitted: 53 days ago

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tags:Reversecandle

just got a picture off google
it looks a little bit less then pathetic

abdosoft [lvl 9] [vp 1000] [ 52]:

the hand is not good cuting i hope you understand me
(51 days ago)

rorof [lvl 1] [vp 0] [ 4]:

if even you say it looks a little bit less then pathetic, why'd you put it in the contest? never say anything about your work being bad, but ask for comments on improvements. You just told everyone that you don't have confidence in your work, so now people are more likely to agree it's bad. I'm not trying to be harsh but it's true. Even if it does suck, ask for construtive critizism, don't say it sucks. ... That is all.
(51 days ago)

Arlo [lvl 12] [vp 2000] [ 133]:

True words rorof. Author, the biggest shortcoming here is your masking and the leaving of the white fringe around the hand. Look through the tutorials and learn how to eliminate that, fix your picture and resubmit a better one and erase your negative comment.
(51 days ago)

krunchy11 [lvl 6] [vp 836] [ 26]:

Was a good idea, I agree with the others that the cutting needs to be a bit smoother. Only other thing is to watch using google to get images as lots of them are copyrighted even if they come up in a google image search. Try using places like the stock here or the many other royalty free stock image places out there such as stockvault etc. Also have confidence, it's not as bad as you make out
(51 days ago)

sources used for this entry:

• 1: source1

final score: 46.6 %

votes placed: 192

submitted: 51 days ago

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tags:Firefingerfingercandleburn