Untitled

The light and expression make this a strong portrait, and the cigarette adds a touch more.  Remove some of the empty space above and I think it would add yet a bit more strength / intensity.  Very nicely done.

Heel mooi. Fijn licht en mooi compositie. De sigaret voegt veel toe. Niets aan doen!

Thanks Stephen and Jacco.

Lovely work, Theo..!

I might agree to (very) slightly cropping off the top of the photo as well -- for a possibly better overall balance... (by eliminating just those half-squares on top)  

Hartelijke groet, Marjolein

This has all the hallmarks of my favorite portraits of yours:  amazing subject expression/connection with the viewer; sublime natural lighting; and your signature color palette with those dusky blues and pinks.  You have such a wonderful and recognizable style, and I would even include the cropping in that category.  I happen to like the breathing room you often give your subjects, which fits in very well I think with the naturalistic (but no doubt carefully considered) approach you take.  Lately I find myself tiring of constrained, orderly, technically "perfect" images, with everything framed just-so with the rule of thirds, no blocked shadows, no blown highlights, every image looking just like 1000 other "perfect" images.  I don't think it would hurt to crop the image, but I doubt that I would enjoy it any more than I do right now.