interesting background, i'd love to know how you achieved that effect (and got validated, too!) Unfortunately, it almost makes this look more like digital art than photography which, in the context of this website, is probably a bad thing. I love the soft focus effects you got on the statue, it makes the centered composition seem not so typical.
I would have liked to have seen this shot before it was photoshoped. Good idea though, but it doesn't seem to have worked overly well around the edges.