Forget the kit you were using. What was your intentions? what were you trying to achieve? From an aesthetic point I find the deep shadow around the left of the chin between the lips and nose, and the neck just too dominating and not at all flattering making the subject look a bit grumpy. As for the composition, the hands through nicely lit are again too dominating in the frame (35mm?) showing up the not so well lit face. I would also tend to avoid 'amputations' as in this case chopping off both elbows. The top of the head is also a bit tight in the frame. Shooting portraits is not easy. Though having said all that the B@W conversion and processing are both well done with a good range of tones.
Forget the kit you were using. What was your intentions? what were you trying to achieve? From an aesthetic point I find the deep shadow around the left of the chin between the lips and nose, and the neck just too dominating and not at all flattering making the subject look a bit grumpy. As for the composition, the hands through nicely lit are again too dominating in the frame (35mm?) showing up the not so well lit face. I would also tend to avoid 'amputations' as in this case chopping off both elbows. The top of the head is also a bit tight in the frame. Shooting portraits is not easy. Though having said all that the B@W conversion and processing are both well done with a good range of tones.