Wow, what a haunting photo. I haven't read the other critiques yet, but I would have cropped out a portion of the foreground. The man/monk seems to almost get lost in all that space.

This is very interesting. The man could have been dressed in a variety of garbs - as you have it, as a guard with a pike, as a tourist, etc. The photo really invites thoughtful poses. A person sitting on the floor looking out towards the portal would also have been symbolic, like they were looking into another world. The incredible glow of the area beyond really opens up avenues. The only negative is that its intensity sort of washes out the other areas, but still, that's what makes the mood of the shot.

GB