First B&W...need critiques

Well, it is quiet cold outside, so I have been forced to work indoors. I am still a newb to photography and this is my first black and white. I figured I needed to expand my horizons, so here it is. Tell me how well I did or what I can do to make it better. I left a smaller DOF because that's the effect I wanted, but maybe I should have went with a wider DOF.

What do you think? C & C welcome.

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If this could be taken without the fingers, I would call this an amazing image. Maybe take it with you (or whoever that is) holding just the very tip of the feather. Then, use Photoshop to remove the fingers and you are essentially left with the entire feather on a black background. Give more depth of field so that the entire feather is in focus, and that, in my opinion, would be an excellent shot.

ifonline wrote in post #2578513
If this could be taken without the fingers, I would call this an amazing image. Maybe take it with you (or whoever that is) holding just the very tip of the feather. Then, use Photoshop to remove the fingers and you are essentially left with the entire feather on a black background. Give more depth of field so that the entire feather is in focus, and that, in my opinion, would be an excellent shot.

OK. I thought the hand would add that extra effect (maybe too plain with just a feather). I will give it a try with more DOF and no hand. Thanks.

4mr4do4sho wrote in post #2578556
OK. I thought the hand would add that extra effect (maybe too plain with just a feather). I will give it a try with more DOF and no hand. Thanks.

Of course, as soon as you do and post it, someone else will suggest a little less depth of field and a hand in the shot!

ifonline wrote in post #2578572
Of course, as soon as you do and post it, someone else will suggest a little less depth of field and a hand in the shot!

haha probably.

actually, i think you could use a little more DOF. just a little more but definitely not enough to make the entire image in focus. i think having some of it blur out works well. i agree with shooting it again without your hand. also, i don't know what its called but the main stem part seems to be blown out so watch out for that next time you shoot it. its a nice first attempt and i think you're going to have a great image if you do it again.