Rust, Moss, Brass and Wood

[lhosphotography]

would like your thoughts on this image, Was an old door knob I found in the garden.
I found this quite a tricky subject to photograph, this was my best attempt...I think...
It was shot indoors under homemade lighting and reflectors, my first attempt at this. I think maybe a light box could help?

[Sephibox]

I can see what you are trying to achieve and don't think the lighting is the main concern in your image. You lit it quite beautifully as far as I can see.

So what I would see as something to keep working on would be the composition and focus.
It's too close, to really see what it is and maybe you want it that way. But I think the overall composition could be improved. For example giving the knob a little bit of a better position.

Also your focus is kind of strange for my eyes. I guess you focused on the knob which is the brightest part of the picture, so my eyes immediately go to the knob, but then don't know what to do or what to look for. The lefthand side is rather soft and therefore seems dull. The strands of moss and the textures are really nice and have a lot of potential. So I would like so see them accentuated more. Also I don't think these textures would come out as impactfull if you wrapp it completely with light in a lightbox. As I said, I like the lighting but if you want to do sth about it, I would try playing around with even more directional lighting

I would also try to play around by shifting the composition, giving the knob a more meaningfull place. You could also try for a higher depth of field so that the keyhole is not so much out of focus.

JMO, hope it helps

[JAS_Photo]

Cool idea and I like the colors and textures here. I think that all this recent talk of light boxes on the forum is giving you the wrong idea though. A light box is mostly for product photography where you do not want shadows and this image would definitely benefit from the use of light to create shadows. For example 90 degree lighting helps to create texture and would help the moss and wood plank be more defined. 45 degree lighting helps to define shape and would help give shape to the actual door knob. I agree with Sephibox regarding the focus as well. A more angled or lower point of view would give your door knob more 3Dish-ness. Right now it is rather flat. That angle of view would probably allow you to do selective focus more effectively as well. I think you have inherently all the ingredients to make the photo pop, you just need to work them a little differently.