This is a basic example for those having problems. It could be the pictures you are trying to edit that are giving you some problems. Perhaps if you use this one it might get you started.

Download the original Paint with Light action at www.atncentral.com and run action.

1. Paint a black brush at 10% opacity in the white Shadow layer across the entire picture once

2. Paint a white brush at 10 opacity in the black Light layer 3 times across the mountains and 5 times across the grass....

3.Run the action again and paint the entire picture with 10% black brush on the white Shadow layer...adjust to 37% opacity.

That's IT!.

Don't make it complicated.

*****Most Important***

dpreview does not display pictures like other sites...they are often washed out. Open the edited picture in NEW WINDOW option above the picture and let me know if it doesn't look more dramatic than the one below.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/mcennis3/dv1616042.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/mcennis3/dv1616042pwl.jpg