I hope this isn't too dumb a question...

I am rendering a plastic object (in this case a watch crystal) that covers
the watch dial.  The crystal (when using photons) casts a shadow that is a
bit strong.  The shadow seems far darker than I would like.  If I turn off
photons the glass doesn't do that.  Is there a way to lessen the shadow cast
by the glass/plastic?  (I am using   max_trace_level 25 in the global
settings)  I also noticed that for some reason when I turn on the photons
the scene renders faster.  If I can get the glass with less shadow and
render faster (use photons) I would be happy.

My texture is:

#declare Plastic =
   texture {
     pigment { colour rgbf <1,1,1,1> }
     finish {
        diffuse 0.001
        specular 1
        roughness 0.001
        reflection 0.1
        reflection_type 1
        conserve_energy
     }
   }


#declare Crystal =
difference {
   superellipsoid { <1, 0.70>
      scale <0.51,0.51,0.11>  // 0.1
      rotate x * 90
      hollow
   }
   superellipsoid { <1, 0.70>
      scale <0.51,0.51,0.11>
      scale 0.97
      rotate x * 90
      hollow
   }
   box {<-1,  -1, -1>, < 1,  0, 1> }

   rotate x * -90

   texture {Plastic}
   interior { ior 1.5  }
   photons {target reflection on refraction on ignore_photons }
}

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