This is basically the same setup as the challenge entry. I was unhappy with the poor paint job, the poor focus, and the rough appearance of the fruit in the photo I used in the challenge, so I shot this one again using fresher fruit. This is a real apple painted gold in front of a reflective gold card. Lighting is the ceiling light diffused through tissue paper. White cards were used on both sides for more even lighting, and there are also two gold cards to the front and side of the apple.
Very little editing done to the original image other than sharpening, cropping, and layering on a white background.