Well, I'm not really one to ask about photos. Mine look pretty decent but it's total luck as the corner of my desk at work just happens to have really good lighting.
A few things about lighting, I'd lose the flash. That'll cause direct lighting which is bad. I tink it also causes the camera to overadjust for it's flash, ruining the what-you-see-is-what-you-get of the photo. Go and get some cheap sections of thin PVC pipe and make a framework box, drape a white sheet over it and shine the lights through it. I think that's how most lightboxes work. In the photo section of this forum there's a bunch of great info but I've not read much of it yet.
Focus, it depends. If you're too close to the pen while it's paralell to the camera it'll focus on the centerband but both tips will be out of focus. I try to keep the camera kind of far from the pen but zoom in to get the shot. Make sure you use the <b>macro</b> setting. Most cameras have it as a little tulip looking flower.
Dont be afraid to let the light dictate how the pen rests. Look at it from about where the camera will be set up. Adjust the pen so it catches the best light, complements the finish. Then, put the camera about where your head was to catch the came angle of reflection.
Oh, and just because everyone says to use a lightbox, dont get too sidetracked by that. I dont use one here at work and it's fine without it. At home, the lighting is terrible so I'd need one. Dont shoot yourself in the foot by doing things you may not need to do.
Just throwing random thoughts out there. Hope you can do something with them, lol