Self Portrait

Very powerfull image!

I'm hoping to get some comments instead of just ratings. The ratings

are too confusing for me. At least when they range from 4 to 7...

 

I like this photo a lot myself but I'd like to hear your critique.

Not only if you like it or not, but also why and what should I

improve...

most important part of a portrait is the expression of the portraitee. In this case you got the expression.

Thank you for a real comment. Although I got only one of them, I got one useful one. Now I have something to go on with. Thanks!

The portrait conveys "intensity" to me. I think that is the result of your expression, the direct eye-to-eye contact I have with your image, and the highly contrasted desaturated style.

It is an intense portrait, and I like this high contrast toning, which makes the photo more dramatic. I like also the composition, the dark side of your face would have been too heavy in the image, considering that you already have a considerable black area in the image.

As earlier comment mentioned intensity, and that's a good starting point for appreciating this photo. Here's what contributes to the power of this image: The catch light, high contrast, details in the long hair and wispy moustache, and the diagonal line of the left part of the face. Sometimes a tight crop like this makes a face float, but I think the long hair and almost full nose/hint of a left eye prevent that from happening.

 

Nice. Now make one of your wife and post that!