To me, the first pict is much better because there is more light on the underside, probably because of a combination of reflection and light angle. Photos of pens that are lighted from the top and photographed from the side or from above at an angle, do not show the complete pen. It is my opinion that photos that showcases pens, the pen should be main purpose, not a just photograph with a pen in it.
While the first photo is a little busy, the pen is clearly visible, even in the shaded parts, and that draws the eye away from the surroundings to itself and onto the pen. The second photo is a little too dark in the shaded parts, which then makes the eye search out other things in the photograph.
If it is the photograph with a pen in it - that is one thing,
but if it is a photograph OF a pen, that is another.
- that is to me what makes the difference in pen photography.
Photographs of "pens" with things in the background or even foreground do help if they don't distract from the pen.
An experienced artistic person can include things in a photograph of a pen that add to the pict to increase the curiosity without distracting from the central theme - the pen. And that does not touch on the lighting or focus, which are different.
Just my opinion.
