Four pens

[Woodchipper]

Set the camera aside and, on recommendation and experience of others, I fired up my Samsung A13 cell phone. Man, there are things there that I didn't know existed! Anyway, I played around with settings, filters, etc., and finally came up with a photo that looks decent. Feel free to critique. A magazine editor asked me if I could take criticism. Told him I had been married for 47 years! Looking to post on the venue's website. However, suggestions are welcome. Anyway, here is the photo. L-R: Music pen with pink/gray/black; cigar pen with spalted maple; Saturn pen with unknown wood; Super click with black/gold.

 

[egnald]

Nice Collection! Great Story! - Dave

 

[Mortalis]

Not sure what filters you used but the photo is a bit reddish.
Do you have a light box?
I built one some time ago with poster board as frames and tissue paper as diffuser. Used a couple of those clamp on spot lights for lighting. Worked pretty well but it is rather flimsy and doesnt take to mistreatment very well.
Something similar to this DIY Light Box
Makes a big difference in the photos.

 

[moke]

Woodchipper, IMO I would not utilize the filters... and set the lens to 2 or 3x and back up. That will also eliminate the proportions being skewed with the nose cone bigger than the click end. Also I believe you are in either your shadow or the shadow of something. By backing up and using a telephoto portion of you lens it will get you out of the photo and yield a more true size proportion.
Try not to darken or lighten too much....that effects the gamma of the jpeg ....making it look manipulated...rather I would add some light and try again before I did that.
Elevate the pen on the back end something....whether it is a Lucite pen stand or something more artsy...photographing from the side will give a better angle and the pen will look more natural.
Just my .02

 

[Woodchipper]

I have a light setup but not familiar with the phone camera. Pens were elevated but not real high. This was my first experience with the phone. As mentioned, things I didn't know existed so it will take a bit to zero in on good settings. moke, have a horizontal lucite stand. Will try it tomorrow.
Thanks to all for your critique.

 

[bugradx2]

I use my phone for many/most of my photos too. I agree with just the basic settings and skipping the filter.

The thing I noticed is the background for the photos appears to have some form of patter or hatching? I think it contributes to making the pens look a little too digitally rendered.

I'm a little too basic in my setup for pens. I put a piece of plywood on a kitchen chair and drape both with a couple black tablecloths so no light can come through. The kitchen has a western exposure so i try to take photos in the morning if I can, they seem to turn out better. I don't have too much natural light that way. I do use the pen stands that Exotic Blanks sells too. I'll turn the stand and pen so that I don't get any reflected light on them in the photo if I can help it.

I usually just post a couple photos on IAP of projects but will post more on social media. I should probably do that the other way around.