This got my top vote of the challenge, probably not everyone's definition of a candid but I really liked the processing and the overall feel of the image. I think it would have scored higher overall if it fit the challenge better.
My pick for the top, follows all the technical conventions effortlessly and with transparence yet transcends to the realm of artistry that is a delight to engage within. A golden egg ;)
Somehow this seems quite appropriate for the challenge. Not a "candid portrait" per se (we go back to my "it's sorta cheating to shoot the backs of people" thing) but to "Capture a portrait of a person (or people) in their natural element without their knowledge" - well that's what you've got here! Did you shoot through a window or add texture or both?