Took me some time to figure out where the "pen" was. Very original idea and well-composed shot. Good luck !

This to me is a bit "busy". I agree... took a minute to figure out where the pen was but maybe if you had a solid background? Keep everything else... just have a solid background. Might work

Have to agree it's busy, the perspective lines go allover, the background, the statue, plant and the book are unnecessary, furthermore I do not understand the candleholder in this which should act like some kind of ink jar.

The idea with the feather, an inkjar and writenpaper is good. Take just those (find some small glass jar which can act like a inkjar) and see what you can do with them. It's just my suggestion to you, up to you if you agree or not

I was going for clutter and haphazard, as a genius like Amadeus desk would be. Using the candle holder as his ink well, I felt represented his eccentric's, three ink pots in one!
Writing his music was all that mattered to him!

Just my spin on what i was after with this pix!
thanks for your input, much appreciated!
p.s. I had already taken stuff out of this photo when setting it up, to make it somewhat less busy!!lol

wonderful shot

Nice set up = )

The pseudo-ink well/candlestick is interesting, but the quill should be placed to show that the tip really is a pen. This looks like it could just be a feather...

The ink on the parchment is brown, as it is in the tip on the feather!

Congrats for your second place, Craigers!