Backlit possible

[Saphire]

[Mira]

1. If there is a question mark in your title,

my answer is try to chop it.
From the bottom up, to the tops of the first finished curliques that form a heart, straighten it a hair to where that top is ramrod straight, and lose the entire top half.
You will then end up
IMO
with a very satisfying pretty square photo, with wonderful color, and no distraction.

Hope it's OK for me to be so bold.

[postatomic]

2. Absolutely

The fading gradient. The highlight on the metal and the faint image hiding in the background shadows. If I voted you'd get my vote. I like this. The image held my gaze. Kudos!