I have been using Adobe Lightroom for over a decade and Adobe Photoshop for over two decades and I still feel nowhere near an "expert". The pace at which both of these software evolve is certainly a mitigating factor, but so is the depth. They are multifaceted, complex, and powerful tools that have allowed us to transform our raw images into something closer to what we have imagined. However, one way the editing suites have improved is nothing to do with them at all: the improvement of cameras.
As cameras can capture more and more dynamic range, and as the raw files become more malleable, we are left with an abundance of options after the fact. This image by Mark Denney is perfectly captured so that the highlights aren't blown out, but the amount of detail in the shadows that is waiting to be recovered is staggering. I must say, I'm fond of the initial image as it is likely how the scene appeared and I'd be interested to see how other photographers would edit it!
