How does Scott Kivowitz utilize Aurora HDR to enhance non-HDR photography?

I often use Aurora HDR on so-called “non‑HDR” photos in a pretty simple, practical way: I treat it as a powerful tonal editor rather than just an HDR merger.

Here’s how I typically use it:

• I’ll bring in a single RAW file, not a bracketed set
• Use Aurora’s smart tone, contrast, and structure sliders to open shadows and control highlights with more subtlety than basic sliders in some editors
• Apply a gentle preset as a starting point, then dial it way back to avoid the crunchy HDR look
• Use local adjustments and layers to keep important areas (like skies or foreground detail) natural but detailed

The goal is a clean, realistic image with better dynamic range and micro-contrast, not an obvious HDR effect.

Do you mostly edit landscapes, cityscapes, or something else you’re thinking of using Aurora HDR on?