How to keep background Black?

So in the end, who has the better picture? That's all I'm looking at.

The other difference...

In the case of the slide rule vs. calculator, there is no reason to use a slide rule any longer, as the calculator has complete displaced it. In the case of something like manual flash and handheld incident meters, they are still in common use today in studio phogography, and the guy who only knows how to rely upon Canon ETTL and wireless ratio flash is sorely lacking in the ability to use studio lights and an handheld meter

>>So in the end, who has the better picture? That's all I'm looking at.<<

No argument that the end result counts. But if you lack the skills to do it in half the time, it's your problem!

I agree that the end result that matters. However when you are shooting for multiple client, and looking through thousands of images....you just don't have time to edit each one for something as little as that.

In this case if you touch the level to get the left side more "black", the rest of the image will wall in to black clipping. That means you have to run a mask to the area that is lighter black than re-adjust it. Than you might have to either healing brush the selected area or airbrush it because it won't be gradient. which in part would have taken much more time if the shot was taken care of the beginning.