@Dale D - I started this thread because I see a lot of people asking about photo editing software, and in particular, those that are
not Adobe and/or subscription based and expensive. As someone that has used those tools (Adobe) for a long time (20 years), I wanted to confirm that a 70 dollar program - Affinity can do nearly everything that PS a LR can do.
Having said that I know that you have been touting the masking tool to lighten shadows that is in Adobe, and most of your imagery displays
your work, and this brings me to my point. . . .
Had I
chosen to change the lighting anywhere in that photo, I could easily have done it (without pixelating or creating noise) but; that is all a personal choice - a style - and everyone has, or will develop theirs. Your style and mine are different and I'm okay with that and hope you can be too.
Personally I do not criticize others work unless they specifically ask for criticism or help, and I think it is in very bad taste to take someone else's image and change it unless asked to do so.
However, if you wish to take one of your drones up, and produce a similar image of
your neighborhood at sunset, and edit in LR and PS and post a photo here - THEN we can have an open discussion about the particulars of each of our styles and; the finer points about the different editing programs. I think in
that context, the discussion could be engaging and thought provoking for us and others as well.
As an aside. I would love to discuss why, my photo is framed as it is, what the elements I am drawing attention to are, what tools I am using to do it, and in general - the thought process behind my final render.