I hate scoring this image so low because I like it very much.....Seems to be technical issues concerning sharpness and clarity....I don't know if it is noise or artifacts but I am sure you can fix them up. Nice image though it show sensitivity to the subject and speaks to the viewer....at least me.
I really like the yellow of this flower, but the rest of the background doesn't give much to look at. Plus, it seems as though the photo could be a little sharper.
I think you're on the right track with this entry. The nice color of the flower is in sharp contrast to the murky water. Image is not quite as sharp as I would hope for. A bit lacking in fine detail as well, but I think this is more a limitation imposed by your digital camera than your processing, and thus is not that big of an issue. A very appropriate entry, and I think it's a fine entry overall.
Just enough background to keep it from being monotonous, a pretty and interesting subject, and an evocative feel. Unfortunately, the flower seems a little out of focus, and I would have cropped the top a little tighter.