Okay, a couple of people have asked me about how I use Photoshop Elements to produce the images that I do. Here is a step-by-step process of what I do. I may see about adding more images/detail to this at a later date.
1. Take several photos with light box/lamp shade on a white background.
Note: I use lucite pen props to keep the pen in place (clip up, etc) but there are other alternatives for this as well.
Note: A white or light grey background is important. I've taken pictures on different color backgrounds and depending on the pen material it can "reflect" the color causing a halo effect around the pen.
2. Import the images into iPhoto.
3. Select the best image (focus, lighting, etc) from those taken and drag this image onto the Elements dock icon. If you use Elements all the time like I do you should drag it down to your dock. 
Note: The image will appear in Elements ready for editing after a moment.
4. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to select and crop the pen or nib, etc.
5. Use the Image|Rotate menu items to straighten/align the image as desired.
Note: I sometimes use the Free Rotate menu to do precise adjusting.
6. Zoom into the image. Usually around 200%. At this level of Zoom you will probably only be able to see a portion of the image/pen.
7. Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool to "trace" around the image.
Note: Take a break once eyes begin to twitch. :)
8. After image/pen is traced use Select|Inverse menu item.
This will de-select the pen which is what we want. You will see why in a second.
9. Select the Styles and Effects|Drop Shadows|High item.
10. A message box will appear referring to layers. Choose OK.
11. Select OK on the New Layer dialog box that appears.
It will appear that nothing happened, but that is okay. Just continue to the next step.
12. Press the Delete key.
Everything but the pen will disappear and the shadow should appear.
13. Select File|Save for Web to save as a JPG or GIF image.
JPG images will typically be saved with the pen on a white background and GIF images can be saved with a transparent background.
For PenPassion I keep horizontal pen images under 400 pixels and nib shots under 250.
You should end up with something like this:
[1]
or this:
[2]
If you get a chance to do this I'd like to see some of your images. Feel free to post them in the Images and Photography Forum. Let me know if you have any questions or if you know of a better way to do anything I've written about. Such as, the Magic Wand tool, which I know about and have used from time to time, but prefer the precision of the Polygonal tool.
Regards,
- Mark