would be grateful for some advice on editing this shot. I have edited it using Luminar as i do not have lightroom, what i would like to know is, is lightroom worth the money considering i sadly don't manage to get out and shoot too often (maybe once a fortnight) and would i be able to edit it better using lightroom/photoshop with the extra features? Thanks for all your help.
Can't comment on the Adobe products, Chris, as I don't use them. I learned on ACDSee, and have stuck with it as I know it. It has served my purposes. I mention it particularly as its Develop mode is apparently equivalent to Lightroom, and its Edit mode to Photoshop, (at least as far as photo processing goes). It serves as my default image viewer and I can process any image I'm viewing instantly and non-destrucitvely. Photoshop users I know seem to have to go through much more rigmarole to do this.
I've just upgraded to the 2021 version for US$ 80 for two devices, my home desktop and my laptop for travelling. I can still (and do) use my older versions, and you can own ACDSee outright as I choose, although you can subscribe and get annual updates for less money.
You might want to take a serious look at darktable (darktable.org). It's a very powerful and competent alternative to Lightroom, and it's free. I tweaked your shot slightly for vibrance and just a touch in boosting the shadows. Thoughts?
Hi Chris. There are basics of photo processing and further there are special features. I assume all image processing software would be dealing with basics in same manner. each processing software further would be offering special features in different ways.
Free or at perpetual licence fees, start with a software to learn basics first. Later at better understanding, you will be able to ascertain the softwares for their usability in your way of working.
each camera system provides their proprietary software free which will take care of basics very well. decide about one time payment or monthly payment model later.
I started with canon processing software first. but was mainly using auto features. Later, shifted to Lightroom when it was not cc model yet. but was clicking sparingly sometimes once in 2-3 months. When I got more frequent, i shifted to photoshop full time. For my impression and understanding, eventually at long run a professional photographer will need to include photoshop in their workflow partially or totally.
Happy clicking. cheers.