Very nicely done. Looks like an oil painting. A couple of more apples or maybe some other item added to the photo might have increased the drama or interest. But I'm not sure what to suggest to add. I scored this an 8. I think this would look beautiful framed on a wall.
this is exquisite. excellent control of lighting and composition. i hope this isn't getting overlooked in this super-sized challenge, and that viewers are giving this the time necessary to appreciate it. thanks for sharing. good luck with this, and all the challenges yet to come!
BEAUTIFUL!!! Looks like a painting! Great job with your lighting... absolutely stunning photo. Unfortunately the low allowance for KB and your compression caused some artifacting on the pure black which is a shame. I'm not sure... it's a little late, and can't think completely, but I believe you might be able to deal with this by saving for the web in photoshop, instead of just saving straight off at a low compression. Gorgeous photo though. I'm giving it a 9... would have been a 10 if it weren't for the artifacting. Good luck!
The crop is a little square for my taste and it could use just a tiny bit more light. I like the low light effect, but it's just a little too low here.
This reminds me of a carravagio painting with the dramatic lighting. I love the textures and arrangement. It's nice to see still life photography can still be innovative.