You are not being a pain at all. Ask until you understand.

Are your bulbs the standard screw-in base like these?

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fa...atalogId=10053

If so, you can find larger ones at any home store. As for adding bulbs, I would use all the same or you will end up with mixed colors. Don't mix the lights and your flash. I use one on each side and one on top most of the time. The image you posted shows the shadow mostly straight under the critter, so I would say they used mostly (all???) top lighting. As you practice you will learn what lighting gives you what effects. Also, ask here any time.

I find the Flourescent White Balance setting on mine needs help. I'm not a Nikon shooter, so cannot give you specifics on the D5000, but I don't think that we need anything special yet.

There is no such thing as a non-processed digital image. The computer in the camera is no more 'ethical' than the computer on your desk top. What is ethical is to make the image as close to the actual as you can. What processing software comes with the Nikon?

Getting close is what is going to be your problem at this point. The min focus distance on your lens is about 1 foot.

Try this next (Any questions, just ask. A year ago, I didn't now what any of this was either.):
- Set you camera up with as solid a base as you can. Tripod at a minimum. Maybe a bean bag would be more solid. Do you have a remote realease? If not, use the timer. Use mirror lock up if the 5000 has it.
- Set the camera on ISO= 200 and Aperture Priority. Set the aperture at f/16. Set the White Balance to Auto.
- Set the lens at maximum zoom (55mm), Manual Focus and focus almost as close as it will go (almost may be a little sharper than all the way). Place the camera so that the sensor (not the end of the lens) is about 1 foot away from the glue bottle and then move it foreward and back until you have the best focus you can get. I believe that the 5000 has a zoom-in Live View that you can use to get the focus. When you get it as good as you can, move the focus ring and see if you can get it better.
- Take the shot (remember - remote, mirror lock up, timer) and see what you get.

TF