Hi Steve,

How about using a spotlight for portraiture? Just light their face and not the baldness nor wattle. Here's a great shot by Albert Watson.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...w=1584&bih=938

This might point you in the right direction. There's also the work of a famous Hollywood photographer George Hurell that shoots with spotlights too.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CDIQ9QEwBA

Best,

Don