Incidentally, you don't have to use the wide-angle look. If you take a more environmental portrait with the person's body parallel to the film plane, you just get more background in.(posted 8321 days ago)If you ever get a chance to see an exhibition by Albert Wiking grab the chance. He does B+W environmental and editorial portraits with very minimal gear, usually an FM2 and a 28mm. They don't look like wide angle shots, but he uses the extra space very, very well. He's very shy and retiring, so not much has leaked ouside of Sweden yet, but if you see "Eldvatten" on show or in a bookshop, it's worth a look. There are some images, though not my favourites, here:
http://www.mentorsverige.org/eldvatten/eldvatten.html
He also had our town art gallery's most successful exhibition ever, with over 80% of the town's population visiting at least once. Here's a pic that will gladden the heart of trad photographers everywhere:
http://www.alimoram.nu/bilder/referensutstallningar/eldvatten/eld 3.htm