Guan Yin Portrait

[LeuceDeuce]

For lack of a living subject :)

Looking for critique of lighting and b&w conversion.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3975353747_4d9c85d557_o.jpg

[Robert_Lay]

If you could arrange a slight change in the lighting such that the nose shadow, for example, extends downward at a 45 deg angle instead of directly to the left of the nose, that should enhance the facial contours.
In addition, the light could be a little further back so as to create longer shadows rather than the very short shadows.

The result of these two changes should make the right cheek darker but leave the upper cheekbone bright.
The B & W conversion is very good and has a full range of tones but could have a greater number of mid-tones and fewer in the deep shadows. Roughly one third of all the pixels lie in the range 0 - 25, which is pretty dark shadow. So, I would say the contrast is a little on the high side.

[LeuceDeuce]

Thank you Robert.

I'll give those suggestions a try.