Hi Bryan,
My apologies for putting a critique here. I realised after I posted that I was in the Unveiling section with NO CRITIQUES in capitals but of course by then I did not know how to "undo".
Regarding using small photos as reference, I try to enlarge them on a photocopier or by scanning by at least 200% You lose detail and they get a bit broken up but you can read for tone and shape a lot easier. Also if you scan them, you can manipulate darkness and light so you can see into shadows. I also have read somewhere on this site the suggestion that you can put a dark photo onto a lightbox to see into the shadows, but I haven't tried that trick yet. I use a really strong magnifier as well, depending on how much detail I want.
Happy painting.
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