Hi
This is my work in progress entry on the contest, the character it`s Vlad the Impaler, king of Wallachia, he is a source of inspiration from books to movie and legends, he was named Dracula.
The render is not finish yet, the lights are not in the way i like it, the shadows are very ruff and the background it have to be redone.
I hope you like the render.
Looks very close to the famous portrait.
Maybe I’ll fix the pearls on the cap to be more regulars.
Very nice, natural and similar to the subject! Good good work!
Just that he does not seem a so bad guy…
paolo
If you’re working with light setups, it might be fun to try lighting from the bottom. Doesn’t really match the famous portrait, but tends to make people look very ominous. http://the-quaint-little-things.blogspot.com/2010/11/class-exercise-experiment-with-lights.html (third shot down)
Nice idea 
I have put the pearls to be regular, with array modifier but they are so symmetrical and boring, the cup looks much better with the pearls less scattered.
