Thanks Eddie. Bruce, it's the lens. The rest of the equation is painfully ordinary including the technician. The Wolly Verito is capable of many effects by controlling distance, oof areas, and aperture. It can be extemely subtle at f7 on a full head portrait, or go for the throat like here.
An 8x10 contact print with such "enlargement" of the subject must be truly impressive. I love the little dance the stray sprigs do at the lower part of the image...