Becco_UK: " I've never seen ANY close up render of a person that is 'photographic' quality."

Check this out. It's pretty close

http://www.xmg.ro/mihai/pages/img_pages/box6.html

or this

http://www.raph.com/3dartists/artgallery/6327.jpg

these next two are also pretty good, but I believe they are closer to simple projections than true, light-interactive shaders

http://www.highend3d.com/artists/artist.3d?au=3dcharacters&iid=133

http://www.highend3d.com/artists/artist.3d?au=3dcharacters&iid=151