I beg to differ...you did well!

Who says it's not spectacular or "special"? You're selling yourself waaaay too short.

Very nice. I like how the white out of focus stuff in the background sort of frames the flower. Maybe try cropping a bit of the black background on the right side and make the image a square instead of a rectangle; it would really set off the flower and all of it's wonderful details...

Beautiful contrasts, composition, detail. I think it's a perfect addition to the rest of your 499 posts!

I think, JAM, that cropping, when used sparingly, can often turn a mediocre image into something spectacular. And sometimes just changing the shape of the image makes a striking difference. But you're right - paying attention to everything that you see in the viewfinder and cropping in-camera before you take the photo is definitely the way to go. As an example, you're familiar with Dorothea Lange's 'Migrant Mother' photo? It was heavily cropped in the darkroom. I saw a copy of a print made from the full negative once and it was not nearly as impressive as the final image that we see everywhere...it's okay to crop...

super focus!

Jam, I like your philosophy. Great shot as it is. I would perfer being known for my camera skills than software skills. I think a spherical subject smack inthe center of a perfect square would look too manufactured. If I was to crop it at all it would only be to center it in the framework that you have there, just a sliver off the right side. But to have such great shot untouched would be something I would be very proud of.

WOW! Great shot!

I think this is a fantastic shot...I would be proud to call it mine...Well done!