Trying to improve the lighting in this shot?

[Capt Rick]

I have to shoot some fishing reels for a catalog and want them to "POP"!
What would you recommend?
I was thinking two 580's with soft boxes? Or would just one be enough with a reflector?
This is some of what I have been doing with fluorescent lights. (I know they need more editing)

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa67/ReelFishhead/PennReelX700.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa67/ReelFishhead/peenreel04.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa67/ReelFishhead/PennreelT-100.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/RickHiott/Pfluegerreel02.jpg

[Canon400]

pics look perfect to me. you might wanna read about light tents

[Wilt]

Product photos that pop are not often produced by light tents or by speedlights even in softboxes. Product photos that pop are the result of careful light placement, including 'negative lighting'. This might take a couple of hours for single item to be lit optimally. Less time is close to by-accident than by intention! In all the high end product photography that I have witnessed over the decades or done myself, a light tent was never used even once!

[Capt Rick]

What lights should I use Wilt?

[Wilt]

You set lights in different size rectangular or squarish softboxes and use white reflective panels and also black reflective panels.

[Capt Rick]

So I should use the fluorescent light that I have been using? Or use flash with soft boxes?

Thanks for your help!

[Wilt]

The trick is simply WHERE to put lights and white surfaces that will be seen as reflections...the light type itself is incidental!

[Capt Rick]

Gotcha!