The Adobe Camera Raw Plugin is AMAZING!

Moose Original   Moose

“Moose Macro”; January 23, 2012, 10:33am; Rexburg, ID; f/5.0; 1/30; Canon T3i

I adjusted brightness and light to make the photo look good. Then I used an adjustment brush to paint on the sides of the moose, defocusing and lowering brightness and exposure significantly, while leaving the main part of the moose untouched. All in Camera Raw. (Edited from a JPEG.)

Flower Original   Flower

“Flower”; January 21, 2012, 10:57pm; Rexburg, ID; f/4.5; 1/13; Canon T3i

Again, Camera Raw plugin using a JPEG. I first made the picture a little more balanced (using the auto setting in Raw), then I used an adjustment brush to bump up the clarity, saturation, and brightness and exposure of the flower, almost giving it a slight halo.