First Impression - the most important one: What a knotty situation ... you can tie and get it to hold to me that is success.
Composition: To me this shot is incredibly centred ... in that the knot itself runs down the centre line of the picture. The balance to this is that the knot lines are also going up from left to right to create leading lines. Maybe a different crop could have taken advantage of the leading line as well as placing the knot itself with the rule the thirds areas to create a little more interest.
Subject: I think this meets the challenge well.
Technical (Colour and light): nice and sharp picture ... I perhaps would try a shallower DOF .. but not sure that would work. I like the natural light of course.
To grow its vote?: try recropping and see what else you can capture through that.
Summary: Great shot ... well done... I can see more good things comming.
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