How Bout This??
But seriously, you have a very good command of all those tools, and they are mighty handy. But after a while, and I've experienced this myself, "what's the point?" It becomes something other than a photograph, sliding toward photo/construction, or some such term. This is a remarkable car, and quite beautiful, and that's really the subject of this photo. So a better approach might have been a change in angle and size to better show the car and avoid the background altogether, which is admittedly too busy.
Sometimes there are objects that you discover later are better removed, but this original shot has way too many to deal with. It's a struggle I deal with a lot too.

Never mind all that!
There's a dog gonna steal your van!!!

What gorgeous light and a great photograph!

Does anyone notice the couple pointing at what looks like a mountain lion in the first photo? Not quite upstaging the Dome, but pretty cool.

A powerful story. Thanks for telling it, and thanks for your service over there. Glad you made it back.

What a great face! The first one is better because the face is so perfect without any effects. A lifetime in that face.

Ah HA! Don't you feel better getting that off your chest!!? Still a great shot, now I see the girl on the right was added. The girl on the left has a future as a dancer!

Echoing what some have suggested, the further that lights are from angle and position of camera the better. Maybe hang back from this group a bit, and let their various lights do the work.

That's a pretty accurate description of what happened, especially the mention of the disconnect between upper and middle management at Kodak. The idea that putting that first digital camera in the closet in 1975 would accomplish anything other than corporate suicide seems remarkable now, but that's really what happened. "The End of Film" was a difficult concept to accept for many, including me, and it doesn't seem surprising in retrospect that it happened to the people running Kodak.

The light is somewhat flat, which makes the color provide the the contrast and interest that the b/w can't.

Cool photo, an unusual combo with the blooming Yucca.

That is a GREAT shot! It is remarkable for how much out of the water the whale is, the flippers etc, great timing! and the location makes it that much more remarkable. Amazing!

Amazing that they are going to begin selling Ektachrome again!

Definitely B/W. It's a scene made for it, and the color seems to take the air right out of the image.

The wider original is better, more context, a better composition. Your first instinct when you took the photo was correct. The blow up adds no advantage.