I think that maybe the newer iron should have been the object in focus since the challenge is about progress, that way it shows the new iron replacing the old one. Just a thought.
i like the way the shot was set up, especially with the old iron as the focus and the new iron kinda blurry, but the hand i think makes it too busy and takes away from the power of the statement.
Love the little old iron. Does meet challenge. Colors are a wee bit flat and the green spot on the iron does draw the eye, but I like the use of DOF, in this case to make the old more prominent than the "progressed" version.
Ahh yes, it does show progress clearly. I would have liked more DOF to have the further iron sharper, or maybe just the focus on the further iron, what with it being the most advanced. I'm also not sure about the hand, the irons could make the point without it.
Nice objects, but the surface is too busy, and by putting the old iron in focus and the other out it is almost like saying the older one is the more progressed! I guess it is...agewise.