Assignment: the economy

[sk66]

Ok, so I've submitted my shot and now I'd like some critique.

First, here's the pic:


Taken: 8 Nov 2009
Camera: Nikon D300
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
Exposure: 0.00
ISO Speed: 1000
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: No Flash
Lens: 28-70mm f/2.8

My idea was to show mounting bills, decreasing balances, and little cash.
I wanted it to feel like a somber/depressing evening at the desk. I added the drink to indicate it being depressing...
To create the desk/evening feeling I used spot lighting and blacked out the window. I used red for the zero balance both because it's an accounting method and to draw attention. I used the pen to point to the zero balance. I chose a shallow focus to also draw attention to the zero balance.

Off hand I know I should have lowered the ISO; I had room on the shutter speed... I think the spot lighting might be a little tight and a little bounce from the left might have helped.

So, was the shallow focus the wrong way to go, does it detract? I didn't try it another way and I probably should have. Is the drink a negative? Is the overall idea well represented? Is the lighting ok? What's the biggest shortcoming to you?

I'm ok that I don't feel 100% on this pic...I seldom feel 100% about any I take.

[windrider86]

I am thinking you need to be closer in. I cant read the writing (of course it could be I'm blind) but it just seems to me that you'd want more focus right in the middle. Bring everything closer together so they arent so spread out. Having so many items makes it hard to decide what to look at.