Nicely done and themed author...I could see this as an ad of some sort....very good indeed!

Such a sadness...
Beautiful sadness!!!

yep, very pretty.

beautiful entry!

Sorry jfish...but the skewed horizon really appears to work here IMHO...the subject is slightly skewed to the right, the horizon, slightly to the left...it creates a 'balance' of sorts...I really like the shot 'as is', the colors also work great together, in addition to the captured action, I must admit...nicely done Author!

Very nice, and I like that it's not black and white like almost all of the others. (pretty model, too)

i like this! nice concept !

I like the note that you wrote and the picture also,nice concept

I love the mood and color of this photo

Lovely, well done

Introduce Henry to a freepin Iron..his shirt is a shame (HEHEHE) fantastic capture

I really like this one, it would really suit Sepia.

Having a style is one thing, but using a scene that was used before in a previous contest is another thing entirely.

Interesting note from the author, as when I saw the photo and read the words I immediately knew who's it was.
Great shot.

I really like the mood here..and the description..

Nice shot for the lines

Great shot!

Great shot!

beautiful

Nice Congrats

Congrats

Beautiful

Can't say I blame you author. I am not a big fan of cropping down images either- usually I just don't enter the themes that require macro type stuff as I don't own a macro lens and in my opinion cropping an image just can't compare.

amazing shot! well done author

Love the title and caption! amazing shot! and well done

amazing!!

Nice compostion ! Good luck author !

" I hate cropping with a burning passion, and only do so to straighten a photo or to fix poor composition, otherwise I see cropping as a useless editing technique. "

That is your option, but if the theme is CLOSE-UP you will either have to overcome your aversion, or learn to get closer. Not all of us are clever enough to perfectly frame every photograph.

Congrats

this is lovely

I have to agree with mazanda about the similairity. Also the description doesnt make any sense, you had a break up and went and rubbed dirt on your face?

Chop it down...LOL

Congrats

One very, very close to it..............fist place
not fair ............. differences are small.................I can not say now congratulations...........SORRY!
http://www.pxleyes.com/photography-pictu4db9d79ec8ee5/Just-Sad.html

Thank you for the information

Congratulations on 3rd place, it's a lovely moody photo, well done for getting up for it.

Nice Congrats

Very nice. Might have cropped just a bit more from the top and the right. But a cool shot

Did you use a macro lens for this?

Wow ! That's perfect, I love it

I think it's beautiful

very nice!

great shot

A lower angel would have made it much more life like.

Imaginative indeed, but look at the goal, you may have to crop it a little closer.

Absolutely on theme! GL

Awesome!!

Looks great!!

great shot

Nice mood !