Alternative Editing Methods Required...Please!
 

As someone who is somewhat less than expert at image editing (But learning, fast!), I have spent the best part of a day attempting to edit a b/w image which required extreme tonal changes in several parts of the image. After making complex multiple selections around a line of trees, then saving, inversing, saving again and applying adjustments to each, I have been left with an image which clearly looks retouched. There is a definite "boundary line" between the selections along the tree line, which makes it look like one part of the image has been cut out (poorly, with blunt scissors) and stuck onto the other image. No modification of the selection edges has improved things.

Serendipitously, I discovered an alternative method on a PhotoRadar video tutorial, which uses the layer masks in adjustment layers and applying a brush to restore the various parts of the image back to it's original state. Not only is this method far more effective, it is also much quicker. I managed to do the same "day long" job in about ten minutes.

This leads me to ask the following questions:

1. Are there other methods to achieve the same or better results? If so, what are they?
2. If the selections method I first adopted is better, when done properly, what should I be doing differently?

I'm sure there will be those whose suggestion will be "if you've found a method that works, stick with it". However, this a learning exercise for me and the more methods I know , the more proficient I hope to become.

Thanks in advance.

I think that 'feathering' the selections in the first method will make it look more natural. Haven't tried it though...

Always always feather, it acts as a gradient rather than a thick line. Also are you using a tablet, pens are pressure sensitive in editing where as mouse selections are hard lines, of course this only relates to free hand tools not dancing ant selections.

I've always used adjustment layers and the brush/ gradiant tool for this type of work as i always find it more effective than selections. :)

Feathering is sound advice - another technique to try when subtle changes are required and you don't fancy the Dodge/Burn tool...

Add a new layer
Edit > Fill > 50% Grey
Change Blend Mode to Overlay.
Now use the paint brush, drop the opacity and flow to a low number (play around to see what works best for you) and paint in black or white to darken or lighten specific parts of the image.
When you're finished, flatten and Save As

Can be quite effective for making localised contrast adjustments.

I find the easiest, least destructive way is by using adjustment layers and 'painting in' the image mask, as mentioned above. If you periodically want to add snapshot layers to try a little destructive editing then using copy merged (cmd, shift, C) and pasting this in will still keep your original adjustments intact.

Save regularly too. I find referring to a core edit file helps in later image edits to copy over adjustments quickly.

You didn't say which particular editing software you were using - this of course would make little difference to the techniques involved - as those indicated by others are all sound and well tried methods - however - there can be some advantages using the full version of photoshop rather than the Element version - as you can employ adjustment layers, curves etc - but whatever - it is all a rather steep learning curve - and indeed the "video section" in this site - is extremely good - much better than the gallery or forum aspect of the site - but hopefully they too will improve - at least YOU were put in the right direction by the video - and hopefully the good advice given here.