Congrats on the good score, and I agree it should've been higher. Nice to see you earn some kudos in a challenge, given what you showed us in the self-portrait project! :)
The literal idiot voters certainly don't get it. I guess if isn't a landscape or something in nature, then they vote it low. I gave this a 9 and stick by it. It is an excellent use of light to highlight and give mood and interest to the subject. UGH - I'm pretty disgusted.
Very nice low keyphoto. Mysterious. Iove the different lighting on each side of jacket, the lighter grey cloth on black background on right side, the black cloth on light background on the left. Liked the nice textures, the greased hair highlights, the lines of the earlobes and the right side jacket cloth texture. Very nice
You have really created an interesting mood with this picture, I love the subtle light down the side of his face and the highlights in his hair. The more I look at this the more I keep liking it. So now I am going to vote a 10.