There is a tone-to-subject inversion going on here. While everything IN this shot screams "very nice", there is a primary contradiction that offers confusion. The lighter tones in B&W are nearly always "guides" to attract the eyes of the viewer to where the photographer wants them to go. At the same time, focus is a standard eye draw as well. You see the conflict here? The lighter tones in the back say, "Look here." while the foreground focus says, "Hey ... here." giving the effect of a duality in the center of the frame (which also calls the eye.) It almost appears your subject is sticking a white tongue out. This could be corrected by darkening the OOF midground vegetation and lightening the FG focused subject. Bringing the top border down a pinch to cut off about a half inch of the top of the rearmost frond while leaving its swirling shape will also serve to remove that element as a possible subject.
gosh. i just love this image (i just noticed that i was one of your three 10s :D ). the noise and dof really speak to me. the tones are just stellar and really run the gamut from white to black. excellent work!
How can you go wrong with unfurling fronds? Crop it closer and let it take over the picture. Nice detail in the foreground. The background is too much and too soft to complement your focal point, which is stunning by the way.
Absolutely terrific range of tones from such rich black to beautiful whites. Nice use of shallow DOF to direct attention to foregound leaf and it's curled tip - also gives a delightful softness to the one at the top back. Composition is very strong indeed for me.
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