Straight to the results:
1 Honorable Mention:
By Maaike Huizer - A simple but effective image, almost abstract but still a little seductive as well...
3rd place:
By Ken Zaret - Among all the different colored beads, this photo cleverly selects just one bowl for it's focus, making them really stand out both as a solitary object but also as representative for all the other bowls. I like the contrast between the different colors and the soft brown wood as a background.
2nd place:
By Markus Grompe - A classic! Both the item and the presentation are very classy and traditional. A gold watch resting on blue fabric, it just works! I like how the focus is nicely restricted to the clock face, and the reflection in the cover.
1st place:
By Aaron Zeitler - This could be straight out of a magazine printed somewhere in the eighties, it's something with the colors and the sheer opulence on display. That's a big rock! The ring seems placed a little too much to the upper right, but the multiple reflections in the glass balance it out nicely and also make it a little more interesting that a single, perfect reflection would have been. I like the abstract background!
So there it is, congratulations Aaron and we'll look forward to the next competition!