MicrostockGroup

The chess pieces and big ben look pretty good.

The christmas ornament looks out of focus. You're losing the string and be sure to clean up any blemishes on the ornament surface. Multiple problems.

There is a problem with the isolation on the praying mantis. I see gray around the front feet. The photo would be rejected because of that.

Coins may work. Doesn't seem like enough contrast on the surfaces.

I don't think any 3 of these would work towards getting you in, for the reasons mentioned.  Also the money one just loses a lot of detail from the angle you shot it at.  The big ben one is almost good enough.  Focus and color look a little off.

But keep trying.

So, I did some work on Big Ben to remove the fringing (thanks for pointing that out):

http://nickburton.smugmug.com/photos/661075136_fjXTZ-O.jpg

I also worked on the isolation of the, Mantis around its feet (and added some edge sharpening):

http://nickburton.smugmug.com/photos/661075192_R22Sy-O.jpg

Here's an alternative Mantis shot from the same series (any preferences for which of the two is better, or do you think I should I just avoid using this kind of thing altogether?):

http://nickburton.smugmug.com/photos/661074886_uwHKX-O.jpg

Yeah, I did mess with the colours on big ben, perhaps I'll unmess them a bit...

I think we'll have to agree to disgaree on the mantis focus though. Looks good to me (focuswise, at least).

I agree with sjlocke that the mantis head does not have enough in focus. Not quite sharp enough.

Maybe lighten the midtones on the Big Ben building only (not background).

Okay here comes some hars observations, don't take me too seriously



*the focus isn't in the right place. IMO the right place would be in the middle of the ball, the string needs to be in focus
*The ball would look better with one specular highlight
*the ball have scratches seams and dust that would be better if cloned off.
*a real natural branch would look better
*what's that hairy thing in the branch? (left side)
*some blue-ish color tints, the color temperature of the light sources doesn't match 100%



*Too tightly cropped in the bottom.
*Light could be better, a strip light would give better light than two small-ish light sources.
*Some color cast here also, seems to come from the background.



*I don't like the leaning of the building. It could work if the crop was MUCH tighter
*Too dark and murky and the sky has some strange colors
*A sunny day with blue sky and white clouds would be much better (yes, I know it usually rains in England )



*The main subject (the coin in the middle) has very flat lighting. The coin in the left bottom corner has much better light



*There are some isolation issues.
*The position of the legs isn't optimal, now the legs are "melting together" too much
*The focus should be in the eyes.

I like the last version of the picture. You are probably right concerning its eyes. However, the reviewer of your application would have to be aware of that too. If you decide to go with it, I would suggest to decrease its size to the minimum (1200 pixels on shorter side).

That does look better with the additional contrast added.  Also nice job getting rid of the fringing on Big Ben

I believe you that the eyes actually look that way, but unfortunately the reviewers will probably not know that is how it is supposed to be.  If they look out of focus to the majority on this board, they probably will to the reviewer too. 

I would say if you have already tried to get in without success you might want to go with images that are a sure thing rather than on the borderline.  Personally I would suggest reshooting the Christmas ornament with a smaller aperture.  It is also a more marketable image IMO. 

I'm sorry about your rejection! If I may suggest, before next application, try posting your images on the IS forum, or get someone to do it for you. It helped me with my application.