Thanks all for the comments. It's always helpful to be able to understand how the image comes across to the eyes of others.
I'm happy that the overall feeling is that the branch growing out of my head is ok lol.
Good point Aaron about the highlight on the head helping to relieve the branch dilema.
Tom, yes this situation is tough which is why I have come back to this place over and over. This day happened to be very overcast and I was able to get a better, more workable balance of light and dark.I have also been practicing with a wireless speedlite set-up and think I could use it sometime to help illuminate a set like this, but i really like the natural light effect with these type scenes.
I actually wanted the extreme darkness and contrast. I feel the dark vignette around the image and the shapes of the light and dark from the windows and subject create the visual of deep thought and introspect that I was after.
I was hoping to get back again and experiment with my speedlites and umbrellas, but I got "busted" here on this day taking these shots and was told I needed a photographers permit. Well, I looked at the parks dept website to find out about getting one and see that it is 150.00 for the application, 50.00 an hour to scout out a spot and then another 50.00 per hour to shoot. hmmm, I don't think so.
I think I may just have to take my chances again . . .
Thanks, and Anil, welcome to the forum and I appreciate the good words.