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Hi.

First post here, I've been using LR for a while, and would like to get better with Photoshop (24.10).  Following some online tutorials, I decide to try to tinker with the photo you see below, which I took in Venice.   What I want to do is to increase the exposure around the gondolas, whilst leaving the building behind, exposed as normal. 

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My process is as follows:

1. I right-click on the photo in LR and select 'Open as a Smart Object in Photoshop'. 
2. I then click on new layer selector at the bottom, and choose to add an exposure layer.
3. Then I click on the little rectangle entitled 'add vector mask' and a mask is duly added
   At this point, this is where something strange happens, and I cannot explain it.  The vector mask is selected, but if I click on it, it deselects, and I am absolutely unable to select it again.  That's the first strange thing.  Moving on...
4. Whilst the layer mask is selected, I adjust the exposure.  But I only want the exposure adjustment to happen to the foreground, right?  So, I then...
5. .. select a brush.  With the brush, I ensure that the colour is black, that the brush is the right size etc., and I brush across the top.  White reveals, black conceals, yes?  So I want to 'conceal' the adjustment layer at the top, and leave the buildings as they are. 
   Nothing happens.  The picture stays the way it is.  It doesn't change at all.   I tried quitting Photoshop and then restarting it with COMMAND + SHIFT + OPTION held down, and deleting the preferences file.  Then I redid the steps above.  Nothing.

Any advice you could give, would be welcome.  What am I doing wrong?  Is a vector layer mask not the same as an adjustment layer mask?   Is there anything else I'm doing wrong?

Thank you.

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