Shibashake's 10/19 Contest - My Entry

Swan

Now that my DAZ knowledge has increased and (more importantly) my postwork and Photoshop skills have improved to what I think is professional grade, I decided to enter the monthly contest hosted by shibashake. Figure if can impress that artist (who does some of the finest renders and postwork I've seen), I'm doing well.

Feedback on what I've done and where I can improve is always and MUCH appreciated. Portrait-style art with just a single character is an area I've found challenging because I have a hard time making the portrait-styles dynamic. More often than not, they come across about as dynamic as a faded, old postcard. Could be just me tooting my own horn, but I think studying Caravaggio and his treament of light & shadow has really helped. Anyone else find benefit from studying legendary painters?

https://www.daz3d.com/gallery/#images/873566