Got this one from GAoTD and you have more then several hours to attain it for yourself. Is it worth $45? Heck no, but for free, it does a pretty good job at brightening shadow areas without noise. For quick fixes, it's a keeper. Just sharing.

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/brightness-guide/

Just tried it as a plugin for GIMP (need PSPI). Works fantastic and the preview is awesome.

Decided to add a before/after comparison.

ref (took this Tithonia grouping the other day): http://imageshack.us/a/img707/5424/57c2.jpg

Those are beautiful Lyle

cool avatar and signature molly.

Thanks Molly; I really am becoming a fan of Tithonia; the plant's ugly no doubt, but the flowers are beautiful and Hummingbirds (as well as butterflies) love these flowers for some reason. I told Dad about how hummingbirds liked this flower from research that I did online and as I was finishing my spiel, Dad told me to look up and low and behold, there was a hummingbird darting between the flowers. lol

Not sure why hummingbirds like this flower; don't see any nector potential but I cold be wrong. Looking at the neck of the flower, the stem does look like it could hold some nector I suppose.

Lyle, what I like about them is the contrast between the bright orange and the green. When there is that much contrast, it makes them get noticed.... of coarse and a good camera helps.

My Leica VLUX-1 is showing its age but it still takes fantastic captures. One of my two battery packs has died on me though; hope the other lasts a little longer since I'm not sure I'm willing to buy another battery pack for it because after 6 years, it may be time for another camera. Then again, as I recall (looked for one a few months ago), $25 for pack w/ charger isn't that bad a price to pay.