Hi all. This is my first post here. I’ve been playing around with blender for a while but this is my first ‘scene’. some of the stuff i’ve seen on these forums is amazing, i feel almost ashamed to post here. 
I am aware of my complete lack of artistic talent, if anyone knows where i can get some, let me know 
This was rendered with yafray, with an HDRI. took about 6 hours.
any comments welcome and appreciated.
That is actually very nicely done. Simple, but well modelled and rendered.
No crits from me.
BgDM
imho: Others should feel ashamed to post, but NOT you! This picture is exelent for a starter! The ashtray is absolutely stunning! Don’t be ashamed, I look forward to see more from you!
Yes great work, no one should be ashamed to post to post here. Even if their work is rubbish (yours isn’t). I like the background, is it just a photo you have taken and used for a sky texture. The reflections on the ashtray are great 
yeah it is just my messy living room, the table in the photo is the one i used to model the 3d table.
you can’t sent in picture’s you know…or issent it a pic?
If you are ashamed then i think i should go hide in the far end of the universe and don’t come back until i get your type of skills.
I think all work are welcome here be they newbs pro or intermediate. Thats what makes this community / forum so good ^___^
Nice work no crits by the way curious about Yafray? I am still getting the hang of blender any idea where i can learn about Yafray
I think the best place to learn about yafray from blender would be searching here at elysiun. what do you want to know about it?
Indeed this is very nice, I like how well you’ve textured the cigarette, very close to being photorealitic, well done.
No crits from me 
Mystery
I think there could be a little smoke above the cigarette since it does look like its lit.
I like it very much. Great work for a first project.
What HDR did you use? Could you share it with us?
Is the cigarette placed inside the ass-glass-thing?
Welcome to Elysiun :D.
thanks to all for the replies.
roger:
the HDR probe i used is the excelent kitchen probe found at
http://www.debevec.org/Probes/
The background in the image is a photo placed on a plane because the kitchen probe was too low res to use as a background.
I’m not sure i understand the question about the ciggarettes placement, its resting inside the ashtray.
BlakeMcKee:
I actually thought about adding smoke but noticed that unless lighting is harsh (or the background is dark) smoke is hardly ever visible… or at least thats my excuse for being lazy 
HIX:
thats the best compliment i could have been given, thank you