In most post processing apps, there is a GRADIENT filter. Check YouTube. Composition and subject very interesting. Always learn

Booth are very good. Please raise(lighten) the shadows a bit and with a mask or any tool in your processing software, darken the sky a tad.
Evens out the picture and makes detaiil easier to appreciate.

Just a quick comment, I downloaded Luminar ai,, at my office computer. No problem, installed quickly and opened fast!. worked on a few edits, all Goood. Then i used Erase, NO Problem. I think most problems are from the computer and background apps. I will put it through a work out tomorrow to prep pictures for my advertisements. Also, I DID NOT install it on LR or Photoshop yet, as a plug-in.

I installed my copy Saturday night. I feel strange, no issues, fast (very) to load,faster than Luminar 4+.Merges some actions into one; overall works well and inexpensive as compared to Topaz or On 1. Luminar 4+ is still my fast workflow App, but with practice AI could replace it. My home computer has the latest WIN 10 updates and runs a Ryzen 7 2700x with 16 gigs RAM. I have a NMVY as C, a 1 terabyte as E and a 4 terabyte as F. Boot up to completion of boot about 26 seconds.
My office computer will be the second install for me. It is an Intel i-5 with a 500 gig SSD and an 1 Terrabyte HDD.

I still run LR a fair amount and prefer it's Printing Module. In the past, I found it best to download the complete Skylum programs to a thumb drive. and then install from there. Luminar might offer that support when your connection is not fast enough. I downloaded from my office which has super high speed; my home internet is at 10 gigs (ugh). Sometimes my phone, as a hotspot, is faster, until it gets throttled. Be patient!

Valtrex 85mm 1.8 Series1 or 2. Built like a tank, excellent bokeh, auto focus works great. Series 1 sometimes can be firmwared to 1.6, at your peril. Check out youtube.

I have the Minolta angle finder, it worked on my A77ii. Let me know if you are interested.

Wonderful! Story and lighting.

I like the bang for the buck , especially ability to crop from 42 mix. The rising is a more versatile camera and on sale about 1700. Dollars. The rii is less ex pensive , buy used with warranty and save big. If your hand is very dainty, you may need to add a bracket. But, lots of new and used lenses and loads of YouTube videos. Good luck on your journey.

I earlier suggested ifootage carbon fiber tripods. I strongly suggest you check them out on youtube or at B & H or Adorama. They have METAL snap locks, non-center column bowl-type attachment for your ball head and both 3 leg and 4 leg models. With a decent ball head you would be about $420.00.

The iFootage tripod, carbon fiber line will suit your needs. You will still need a ball or pan head. That is another discussion and the results will depend on your preferences and subject matter. I prefer Acratech, made in the US. Good luck!

I do not use PS as a file system, but use LR. But regarding Luminar 4.3; "export "normally is to return file to source folder, to avoid duplicate issues I add "underscore" and a number or letter depending on subject and use(don't ask) alternatively you could "export" to a desktop folder and then cull your pictures. With 16gis ddr4 and solid state drives export is speedy even for 50 -60 megabyte files. Tech support has been within 24 hours usually, concise and helpful. No unresolved issues. Luminar 4.3 is a fast, and powerful photo editor. enjoy.

I believe that most are missing the point! When one, performing tasks is rewarded quickly with the completion of these tasks, based on not just doing the minimum, but surpassing that, the recipient(s) of these tasks determine the reward, hopefully, not just on rote, but on excellence of service.

In the Mortgage industry, most Banks and S & Ls have Salary mortgage officers who are paid salaries and if they do a good job, they get to keep it. a good job is usually, making the least risky loans or the most remunerative loans for the institution. There is an incentive, but...

Going though a Mortgage Broker, who is paid on loan completions and number of loans completed. If they hide "bad" borrowers (almost impossible) they get caught and out of a job. ONTOH, they have every incentive to assist the perspective borrower jump over hurdles to complete the loan. Most often home mortgage loans from Brokers have lower rates and slightly lower closing costs than Bank Andean S & L mortgages. When a worker has more incentive than just keeping a job, every one benefits. The best example is the freaking VA not helping my fellow Veterans. Those Federal workers hid malfeasance and misfeasance on a regular basis and received their wages anyway. That is until the Executive branch of Government stepped in. That is what happens when there are "guaranteed" wages and jobs.

"Living Wage" is a misnomer, remember that it is better having a rising tide than a whirlpool sinking the ships. (Pardon my messed up saying) BTW, it doesn't hurt to be polite and smile to those one crosses in day to day life, for Nurses and cashiers and bank tellers, a "thank you" and a smile is a ttip.

Increasing Minimum Wages rarely does what is needed. Before the Chinese Flu hit, McDonald's and many Fast Food, as well as many Mid-Priced sit-down chains went to kiosk and at table computerized ordering. This reduced the amount of humans needed and consequently overhead. It s like the old saying, "Raise Taxes on corporations", the issue is that Corporation raises their prices or cuts services and quality. When the minimum wage hits a certain point, businesses either raise prices as high as market will sustain them, and/or cut serices and quality as low as market will accept. The final alternative is to shut down. Google Seattle Restaurants and minimum wage. In other ways, I agree with you. I worked back in the 1950s for less than a dollar an hour at a grocery store. The average new car was less than two thousand dollars.

Usually, Server's tips are delayed when included in a debit or credit card transaction. Tip in cash directly to Server and they will be happier. One comment, there is discussion that Servers' tips should not be calculated as a percentage of the bill, but as a dollar amount minimum per person and degree of quality of service. For the past ten years 18 to 20 percent has been common practice. 15 percent is on low side. For two people and decent service and twenty Dollar tab; 5 dollars is nice and not excessive, 3 bucks will insure that that server will prefer other customers. 4 dollars is good for average to good. Bad service would require a conversation and a ten percent or less gratuity.
If service is bad due to the restaurants issues, how your server relates to you and the problems determines the tip,
Obviously, I have worked for tips at some time.

I too use Luminar 4 as my main processor for my Real Estate photography and Portraits. I like it landscape work also. Some tools are quicker, easier and mostly more effective than LR and certains actions in PS. Only glitch is that my files are large and I export at 100% to named folders and export time is not as quick as I wish. Smaller files under 15 mb are faster.

I still use my LR, and a couple of older apps for adding text and objects, (shapes) to photos. These are faster than PS for my purposes. As for the new version of Luminar, if it works better I will use it. My Luminar 4 has been updated a few times at no cost. Skylums tech support via email is not instant but very thorough and easy to follow. In a nutshell, I like the current version and maybe I will like the new version. They are still less expensive than Adobe Photo subscription. I am fortunate that I can afford the Adobe $10 subscription and will continue using it too.