why both a pencil and a rubber band? I would have picked one or the other. This would definitely give it a stronger subject, as right now I go back and forth between the two.
Lovely use of very shallow DOF..you have really pinpointed the subject well.
It also suits the desat (although a little colour is still showing through in the wood grain).
One of my top picks.
I like narrow DOF, but this is a litle excessive. The ribbon (or is it fettucine? - I can't tell!) is wasted, because none of it is in focus. Nice B/W tones, and a good (though not unique) interpretation of the challenge.