mint work neo, happy xmas/new year.
I prefer the 2nd, the 1st looks like he has had over processing applied to his skin?
Gary.
I love the first, negative space either works or it does not, here it works well for me!
As far as post processing the client is king, but I do find the blue tint in the skin by the eye (proberly a blood vein near the skin surface) a little detracting and would have proberbly removed that, but thats being picky.
Love number 1, the only thing I would say is that he appears to be staring at the 'Whaling Images' text.