Jasper,
I like the composition. Lovely expression but the right hand is distracting due to the flashed out look. There are lot of details in the image.
I like the crop but would prefer more room at the bottom but the hand would be in the way. In the original I would prefer the whole hand or none at all. I would also have preferred it sharp throughout. All said and done an interesting image and one you would want to study...
With a Canon EOS10D at 1/30 @ f/6.3 and ISO 800 you got as much DOF as you were going to get. But I have to agree, the OOF hand distracts from the stare.