I know you would not be happy with the results - specially given that a photochopped image won, I am not happy either :( but thats the way it works.
I like the concept of your photograph very much, but would have liked if the spotlight was a we bit off center. The cloth adds to the effect of the photo
isn't it "Hamelin"- anyway, very interesting shot- it could also be entitled " snake charmer's apprentice" I like the texture adn the center blow out. Way to keep those blacks black too, instead of brownish. Perhaps shoot the shot slightly from above.
And I just bought a cheap soprano recorder last week -- before I saw this. Good idea and composition. Is the background fabric? I like the overall graininess, but something in the texture isn't quite right for me -- I think I'm expecting a "pebbly" texture as from stucco or plaster.
Good idea for the challenge. I think the cloth is causing this to look like noise/grain. I actually like the look and think it adds here. Good work, good luck in the challenge.
Like it very much, also the texture of the background.
It should read Hamelin though (I acctually lived 20 kilometers apart from Hameln, as the town is called in German).
Good luck!
Is this a shadow or the sillouhette of a person? It almost seems to be the sillouhette of someone with a bright light coming from behind it. I can't be sure, but if it was, this would put it off challenge.