jabomano, this is a wonderful image. But I'm with bowman. The skin veins are just too distracting. I think they can be tamed a smidge to match the rest of the skin without compromising integrity. It's gritty, soulful and emotional. His eyes are riveting.
I was going to take them out and I asked him about it. He wanted them to stay as he wanted to leave in the reddish cast to his nose.
"This is who I am" he told me. And then added "I'm too old to impress anyone." He owned the 3rd largest direct mailing company in the U.S. He worked until he was 80 years old.
Thanks for the comments.
Ray
'If dogs don't go to Heaven then I want to go where they go.'
I'm simply in admiration before this portrait, Bravo ! is all that comes to mind. About the veins, yeah they do detract attention for a moment but they contribute so much at keeping the eye moving around (and never leaving the portrait) i think it was simply the right thing to do by keeping them as is.
I am curious about both the lighting and PP, would you care to share jobomano. I mean i love the tones and almost copperish feel of the skin but i am not sure how to achieve this result, although i suspect it is possible to do with a plug in of some sort (at least to start with) Thanks in advance and again, great great work at my end of the world ! :-)