I might have added just a tad more contrast to this but, it might have given even more blow-outs in the background. However, since this was expert editing, there is a lot that could have been done with the background...including changing it. :)
There are times that I look at the face and think that it is really a human 'stone' face and then other times (when I look at the hollowed eyes) that I see it is just a statue. While this is just a statue it is one of the sphinx and it IS the choice of composing your main element that lifts this out of what I would normally view as a snapshot. I like how you composed it at an angle to include the road. The story surrounding the sphinx is that she was guarding a 'road' or path. A traveler would have to answer her question in order to pass. So here we have the Sphinx guarding the curved road and 'blocking' our path until we answer correctly. While a good shot (and I might add a slightly above average shot with minimal editing in an expert editing challenge) it could be even better. First off when I think of the sphinx I think of this creature looming over me. I don't get that with the composition as it stands now. The looking down angle makes me think/feel that we are looking down at what is supposed to be a fearsome creature. I think you could have shot this at a lower angle looking up making the the Sphinx seem larger than us. Make us fear her; show us how she can/is bigger than us. If you shot at a lower angle I would still recommend getting the road in the shot for it does complement the image. Black and White tones are good- BUT could be better. The tones on the main subject could be jussst a touch more contrast between shadow and highlights. There are blown highlights in the backdrop. Either or both an adjustment in aperture/ISO and some adjustments to Shadows/Midtones/Highlights in post processing would help.
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