Only change I'd make is clone the wall behind him so the darker areas that extend out of frame become the same color as the adjacent area closer to the man.
ok, I'll throw my 2-cents in: I think a bit more light on your subject's face would help. Maybe if he'd held a reflector? (or try it in post). I agree with FotoBlah re the left side of the frame. Hope that's helpful.
Thank you . I am a neebie, can we do post for our pictures?, most of mine have been straight out from shoot.
and I love having my pictures critiqued, it helps me become a better photographer.
Ditto to most of the above- definitely black and white! Clone out the distracting black areas on the left, then convert to black and white. See what that does to the back ground first. You may not have to do any further editing as black and white is very forgiving. Once in black and white with the background even in tone, bring out the texture of his face with contrast (work slowly and lightly with this keeping his dark skin tone in mind) and light. That will also increase the emphasis on his eyes, which is what drew you to take the picture. It's a great portrait! And yes, you can process to your heart's content here- in fact there are several "challenges" (sort of like picture games) which encourage it! What Would You Do? (WWYD), the composite challenge, and ETSOOI (Edit the Silliness Out of It) to name a few.
As the voice of dissension, I don't believe this image would be improved in B&W. The shadow cast by your subject is an obstacle. You can post process it out, but you will just be replacing it with white which will further wash-out the majority of the photo. With this exact image, I would recommend leaving it as is and accepting it for what it is: a picture that can be very meaningful for people who know this man. The images of people who are strange to the audience need to have something universal that draws you in (e.g. eye contact with a child for age contrast; interaction with someone who may be Goth, Emo, Hippie, etc. for a style contrast). As close as you are to the man (physically close, not relationship), there is nothing in the composition that helps the viewer grasp the history behind the image. For future setup, if you can get a view of the subject with more distance between said subject and the wall, shallow depth of field will help to focus on the man. Also, there should be some variety in colors or textures. This man is in a white shirt against a white wall, and his beard is just slightly whiter than the shirt. I do like the purple ribbon. Perhaps you could process to B&W but leave the ribbon purple. All that said, I do believe you have a decent photo and a really good start.
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and I love having my pictures critiqued, it helps me become a better photographer.
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