Overlaying images, bright sign on dark background...

[Jack2013]

Hi Guys,
I've taken two different images, one metering for the sign and the other for the crane. I thought it would be a simple matter of overlaying the images and increasing the transparency of the darker image until only the bright sign remains, visible over the detailed crane.
I've discovered it's not that easy

Can anyone talk me through how to do this? I'm using GIMP to layer the images..

Thanks in advance!

Jack

 

[tirediron]

Two ways come to mind; (1) layer the corretly exposed crane over the correctly exposed sign, then erase the sign from the top layer, or, (2) cut out the correctly exposed sign and paste it into the correctly exposed crane image. IMO however, the best way to do this would be as a high-dynamic range merge ("HDR") image where you take 2-5 images with between 1/3 - 1 stop exposure difference between and then use custom software such as Photomatix to merge them into one, correctly exposed image with a much greater image than normal.

 

[The_Traveler]

there are lots of ways but I think that sign is still over-exposed in the darker one.

You need to go down 2 or 3 more stops to get the best detail

 

[The_Traveler]

In terms of method:

Put the correcly exposed superstructure on top, then mask out the too bright sign and the correctly exposed sign will show up.
GIMP - Layer Masks

 

[Jack2013]

Thanks for the tips guys,
as soon as I have a chance I'll take another photo of the crane a few stops less exposed and have a crack at it..

Thanks again,

Kind regards,

Jack

 

[The_Traveler]

Jack,

Sent the camera on a pripod and take a series of shots from drastically over-exposed to drastically underexposed so that you can merge the best of them.