First it seems like it is a little too much sepia. I would desaturate it more to black and white. To dampen or I think you mean darken the right side I though of using the gradient tool in photoshop and make the darker side od the gradient fall on the right side. It would be like putting a grad grey filter on your lens.
I think it is a good picture, and I agree with Jo, it will be difficult do damp the light on the right because there is no clear boundary with the threes. Perhaps you could add some clouds from another picture ? I had the problem with one of my picture, if you find a solution ... For the bag, it should be more easy. But If I were you, I wouldn't remove it, Il would change its color so that it fits with the surrouding (and suppress "the target").
Just a question is the woman on the right showing her tongue ?
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