What an amazing difference between the before and after. I really like the high key treatment. Did you do that with a filter or just by adjusting levels and brightness?
The ninja pose also seems to follow the lines of the background which makes a very pleasing composition.

Hi, yes that is Nik Software High Key Filter which is nice because it has dynamic and standard lever and in playing with those levers details can be brought out. Thank you for your comments, very appreciated.

The little statues are charming. You did a wonderful job of cloning the poles out of the scene.
I personally find the brightly coloured background a bit distracting. Have you tried it in BW?

Very nicely done. The pencil sketch is subtle and highlights the veins beautifully. You also brightened the highlights well. The end result has a lot more light than the original.
Not sure what you mean by adding saturation to the pencil sketch?
Adding saturation to a black and white image doesn't make it coloured.

A suggestion for improvement....
Select highlights only and feather the selection by about 30-50 pixels. Copy it and paste on a new layer. Then change the blend mode to soft light. You can then change transparency to suit your taste. That should add another lighting effect to make it look like some sunlight is shining on the cabbage patch. Try it and see what you think.

thank you ...I've bookmarked that link but am wondering if dodge and burn would do the same thing?

Congratulations on scooping the pool. Well done.

Congrats for 1,2 and 3

Check horizon line tilt to left. I wonder what it is I am seeing?

Thanks olga its part of a windmill,hence the connection between the two

Eye catching with the background colours complimenting the colours of the rusty ring.