I keep coming back to this before rating..... I really like this, but am fighting with myself for wanting space in front of the face or more behind? I do think it to be relevant.

A nice contemplative shot and definitely some negative space here.

However, I am not sure I am seeing this image the way you are seeing it on your monitor. Either that, or I am not getting what you were going for. I see strange shadows on this person's face, particularly one dark one circling the back of the head in the shape of a C. And the shadows seem to me to be very noisy. Maybe it is a difference in monitor gamma settings and what you are seeing is something darker? I also think that the brighter areas could be brighter, to contrast with the shadows more.

This image seems too soft and the focus seems to be on the neck of his t-shirt. His face is too dark to compete with the black of the background.