So many "duct tape over the mouth" images in this challenge. I have lost count.
It just does not really evoke the feeling of "Silence" for me. This to me says "Silenced" but not "Silence" 5
It lacks contrast, but that's really my only issue with this image. The background is only slightly darker than the subject, so my eye just kind of wanders around until finding the eyes, instead of being instantly drawn there.