Both your and Phil's version speak volumes but differently. In yours here the man is contemplative and we can imagine what he is thinking about. In Phil's, the wall seems to play a large part of what the contemplative expression on his face is all about. Both are just amazing portraits.
This is an insightful portrait, Tim -- it forces us to enter his mind, and reflect along with him. As you mentioned, we were shooting this man side by side. I caught almost the same expression in my portrait of him, only I chose to add context by including more of the wall behind him. In my image, he
remains as deeply silent as he is here, however the wall behind him speaks loudly of things past.
http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/86311226