065: Russian-Style Pen Top

Today I felt that I should take a pictue of the wooden pen on my desk, as I do quite like the top of it.
A plain background didn't look like it would work, and I just happened to have an interesting patterned coin purse nearby, so that got put behind it. It seems to work quite well as the styles of both objects used are both relevant and fit together; but I keep wondering if the background might have worked better if it were blurrier. The wooden doll-top is sharp and clear, but it doesn't 'pop' out as much as it could. The similarity of colours is probably to blame as well.
But all in all, it's a worthwhile picture.

Settings: f/8, 1/180 sec, ISO 100, 50mm M42, 29mm extension, low flash, white reflectors.

026: Pen Tops

I felt like taking a picture of some pens today. Again, an expample of not having a satisfactory range of colours, but there are plenty of differing forms and details to make up for it. The camera was tilted to the left and I regarded the image as landscape through the viewfinder, but the auto-levelling function decided it was a portrait format shot... I could have rotated it, but I kept it as it was as I prefer it.
I also could have dusted the pens a bit first. There's a surprising amount when you look closely.
Settings were f/7.1, 1/180 sec. ISO 100, low power flash, 18mm lens extension. I used a generous amount of white reflectors around the bundle of pens, which were tied together with a rubber band and stood in a mug.