Color Correction Hot Spots

How can I lower the brightness of some hot spots in a frame, but still maintain the tonal range of the rest of the image. Right now I'm duplicating the file and creating garbage mattes around the hot elements (lamps), then adjusting that matted image. But there must be a better way. I've experimented with key luma (it's a black and white film), compositing, and the limit effects part of the color correction pallette, but still havne't got it.

Here's a previous buch of ideas for this

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