The pen was fun, but the photo is an experiment...

[Uncle Cracker]

Here's a cigar pen in Ti gold. The wood is crosscut marblewood (nice look, but a PITA to turn x-cuts with a wood this brittle). I have been wanting to try some photos without flash, because of too many shiny reflections, and this is the first try at the new composition. I have 50w halogens shining through the tent on the sides, and a big 6500K CFL shining down through the top. I like the look, but as I am both photographically and monetarily "challenged", I'd like to know what you shutter-jockeys have to suggest...

[TB Roye]

Unk.

I too am photographically challenged. The picture lookw good to me. It is a nice looking Pen. When I take pictures of my pens, I get so frusrated with them I could through the camera throug the wall of the shop. I have Kodak 5 mega pixel digital camera which doesn't have many adjustments. But I found using the light tent and turning off the flash works the best. I just can't justifiy buying a better camera as the Kodak works fine for my other picture taking. Just keep practicing and try different thing until you satisfied.

Tom

[cabinetman]

Nice looking pen. My suggestion is to use some fill lighting towards the rear to even out the brightness of the view. That could be something like a small flood strategically placed. The color and brightness in this photo is good, except it gets a bit dark to the left. Other than that...you done good.
.

[BobSch]

Try adding a light low to the left rear to give a bit more definition to the back of the pen. Otherwise both the pen and the picture look great.

[Russianwolf]

It's not bad. I tried shooting outside this past weekend and it did well. I actually stood so that my shadow fell on the pen to keep them from being too glaring.

You might want to try a more neutral background. If that's the Walmart Photo tent, flip it to the grey side. Tends to be less distracting.

[radhak]

The photo is doing justice to the pen, almost. As others have noted, there is a smidge of a shadow on the underside, slight enough that you could take it as nitpicking.

Just a table lamp could take that off.

Or, now that you are eschewing the flash, have you tried putting a flat mirror underneath the pen (instead of the blue)? If you can manage to avoid reflection of anything else from the room (say, just the tent or any other solid color), you might show off the pen real good.

The size of the mirror needs to be just bigger than what will appear in the final (cropped) pictured - you don't want distracting frames here.

[RayintheUK]

Was your camera on "Auto," or can you recall the aperture/shutter (or display the EXIF) info? Hand-held or tripod?

Have you seen any anti-reflecting spray? Looks like the little stand would benefit from a squirt on the edges - or a light sand with a fine paper.

I'd agree about the background being a little distracting - a more neutral tone would have done that fine pen more justice.

Ray

[Tom Slick]

your lighting is highlighting the acrylic stand. Pick your spot you are going to photograph from then make small movements in the lighting and observe the changes. Another tiny detail is not to have any seams or creases in your background. You have a black line across the back due to a corner, try making the background rounded.

also try macro mode on your camera. It is usually the setting with a flower. It will blur the background.

Is your plan to take standard documentation type photos or get artistic?

[Uncle Cracker]

That's good advice, guys. The "black line" is a crease in the cloth backdrop that I even tried to steam out. The surface is curved, but the crease remains. All lighting is diffused through the studio tent, top and sides. Camera is a Nikon Coolpix 4300 on a mini-tripod, set on "Auto", and with the "Macro" setting engaged, flash off.

The only other color backdrop with the studio is light gray, so I'll try that and jury-rig some others. I assume different color backdrops might work better with different pens and hardware, so the experiment will continue.

I am also thinking a crystal or piece of natural burl cap might make a nice stand, as the acrylic one is chintzy looking, but I am also thinking a really nice stand would make the pens look more "ordinary"...

Thanks again for the constructive comments. Keep 'em coming...

[radhak]

I am also thinking a crystal or piece of natural burl cap might make a nice stand, as the acrylic one is chintzy looking, but I am also thinking a really nice stand would make the pens look more "ordinary"...

Good point - after seeing other postings here with rough-hewn rocks/quartz as the base/stand I always used to wonder why not make a nice piece from cherry or so; now i know...!