That's a clever way to get a white background - use the negative. :D I'll be interested to see how this fares with the voters. Personally, I like it in an abstract kind of way. Good luck.
This is interesting. I suspect it is the type of photo that grows on you the more you look at it. I appreciate that you took a risk with the high contrast. I do wish the leaf were positioned just a bit more to the right and up.
Very Artsy (which I love)! However, a tad unrecognizable (of which I am less than fond.) It does highlight your title...so...overall a do-able photo "in my book" (for what that's worth since I'm still currently B-team for the JV's in the minor leagues right now.) Yet there's always HOPE! So, onward & upward! Press on! :)