Thanks for all the comments. As I looked at all of the other submissions I knew I'd be hammered for submitting something out of focus, but at the time it seemed like a good idea, and I liked the outcome.
Macro, abstract, art, whatever - it's what the image does for you that matters. Being too technical about what defines "macro" is limiting in my opinion, but I do like the input as to why folks like something in focus in a macro challenge.
The subject is a glass bowl of marbles lit by natural light at a window - it would've been too easy to guess marbles if I hadn't played with it. In the end I chose to present soft and soothing colors. Next time I'll go for something more crisp.
Thanks again, this was my first challenge, but won't be my last.
I happen to think anything goes with abstracts, but you'll find that this crowd wants sharp even in a soft focus challenge. To me, your photo looks like ambient music sounds - and it seems to bob in and out of its dimensions. I really like it - got a 7 from me, and you have quite a few other high votes mixed in there. Sometimes a small quirky audience is better than an army of kneejerkers :)
This one does absolutely nothing for me. I think it would be hard enough to guess what it is if it was in focus, let alone trying to guess what it is when it is out of focus. A bag of marbles?
I think this is too blurry to be considered a good abstract. It needs some defining feature, more detail in the lines or curves. It could be any colourful, out of focus object, like crayons, lights, candy, etc.
I'm sure this is intentional, but the lack of focus doesn't appeal to me here... there's no main subject that draws the viewer in. I find my eyes wandering all over the place here.
The ultimate abstract: everything out of focus :) An observation, it looks from the shapes that you didn't use a fully open lens? Why? If everything is to be out of focus, and all you want is colour shapes, why wouldn't you use your bigges aperture on the lens? Then again, maybe I'm wrong and you did.
As for the picture, it doesn't really work for me, because even though the colours are attractive in a subdued way, there isn't much to hold me here - even if I squint my eyes and look at it, it still is simply some colours. That's not bad by itself, but there needs to be something more, something that speaks to the viewer, not something in focus, but something that connects better. If that makes sense. ~5
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