I am a bit torn about the processing. I like the richly detailed, textured look which gives an immediacy to portraits, and his skin and beard offer lots of interesting detail. But at some point, not sure where, it can feel too much. I think you are on the right side of the spectrum, but its a matter of taste.
Couple other things about the comp. I think you have a bit too much on the right. There is something awkward about his right arm position or its appearance, perhaps influenced by the hole in the chair behind him. I also wonder if you should preserve a bit more of the effect over the shirt and possible the chairback, which looks quite smooth. The whitish background is interesting, non-distracting, and adds depth.
Thank you Scott, I appreciate the feedback. I agree about the processing of the shirt, I probably should have left it a little more "gritty" and not dialed back so much. I'll look out for that next time I do this process. I also couldn't find a crop that I liked more than the full shot, but I'm still not happy with the framing. I'm just beginning to learn how to photograph people so I can only hope to get better with more practice. And since this was a candid shot taken on the fly at a party, I didn't think to ask the guy to strike a better pose. That's another thing I'll have to remember for next time.
Thanks!
