Originally Posted by
purplehaze
No layers in Aperture, but there are brushes that do the same thing. One way to darken the background would be to burn it using the Burn Quick Brush, with Detect Edges and Color Overlay selected. Alternatively, one could darken the entire image by selecting that option in the Burn Quick Brush tool, and then use the Eraser on the icicles. I think there are probably other options as well, but that is the limit to my knowledge.
In case there is any misunderstanding, my question regarding the Curves tool was motivated by the fact that it seems to me, looking at the second image, that the tonal range in the icicles might be stretched a touch more. Even that adjustment could be brushed in, or away, as one needed or wanted.
If you do experiment with Curves on this photo, Lisa, start with your master, not the version you have already adjusted, and compare the two versions when you are done (apply your Edge Sharpen after everything else). You will see that many of the tools do the same or similar things, they just differ in the amount of control they give you.
Hope that helps.