So you just wrote your own raw processor… 
Interesting,thank you. Yes, I was pushing it with dynamic range. And this path is really quite gloomy at the best of times. A darker image is probably truer to life. Regarding the highlight, I was struggling to try and not overexpose it whilst trying to keep the image lighter. Given the choice I’d take sensor dynamic range over resolution any day.
I’ve had another go with the image using the Lab controls a bit more as well as retinex and have tried to make the centre, non highlight part lighter and with a bit more contrast. I think the problem here is the undergrowth to the side of the path is starting to look cluttered and distracting when lighter and with more contrast. Probally in need of more work with layers and masks if I were to want to make more of this. Or go and take the image again…
