I've had this picture for a while and always loved it. Just recently I decided to fool around in Photoshop and I have to say I love it even more. Tell me what you think.
Putting aside the fact that I've never got the whole "flag thing", let alone the relationship between patriotism and pretty girls the contrast of colour and bw does have dramatic energy. I know close crop is a style but this one feels a bit cramped at the top, too close to her head. Her semi-averted face does increase the focus on the flag/towel as it reduces our ability to relate to her face to face (As it were.) as THE subject of the image.