@CobaltDream: I agree completely with your assessment of my ability to light effectively. I have none. Again, not for lack of trying, but because I really didn't pay much attention to what the experts were doing. So, you see evidence of a bright light where you really don't expect to see any, and it creates a sense of falseness, that something's not quite right, here.

Lights are one of my main weaknesses.

I could say: "well, all I really want to do is develop make-up with shaders and masks, so lights don't really play a role." That's until I look at the work "shaders". Implies lights. So, it is time I studied it.

Any of you have any views on a book I recently bought: Practical Poser 7 by Denise Tyler? It was primarily for the tutorials/workshops on lights that I invested in it. Well, regardless, gonna go curl up with that tonight and have me a read on that subject.

Anyway, thank you for your constructive critique. I have a very long way to go - and I'm enjoying every minute of it! - before I finally achieve what I want to achieve: a strong sense of emotion evoked by viewing one of my images... one where technical accuracy blends well with powerful visual beauty.

Monterey/Mint21.x/Win10 - Blender3.x - PP11.3(cm) - Musescore3.6.2

Wir sind gewohnt, daß die Menschen verhöhnen was sie nicht verstehen
[it is clear that humans have contempt for that which they do not understand] 

Metaphor of Chooks