I found this method to be very useful, with single images, and without a plugin:

1. Shoot in RAW (but I managed to use this method with jpg images too)
2. Open the image in Photoshop (through your RAW editor if it's in RAW format) as a 16-bit image
       or convert it to 16-bit (menu Image-Mode-16 Bits/Channel)
3. Now convert the image to 32-bit (menu Image-Mode-32 Bits/Channel)
4. Immediately convert it back to 16-bit; the conversion window pops up
5. Choose the Local Adaptation conversion mode
6. Click on the downward arrow and you'll see the Curves histogram
7. Adjust the curves to your liking (needs a bit of experience, but it's easy to learn)

That way you have an extended control of levels and tonalities...
And you can still use your own additional methods.

We do not see things as they are. ǝɹɐ ǝʍ sɐ sƃuıɥʇ ǝǝs ǝʍ