16 Combining two images to capture interior and exterior lighting.

One of the exciting possibilities of digital photography is in the combining of images to produce a picture which could not be taken in "real-life". A simple but very effective example of this is when taking a picture through a window from within a dark interior. If a single photograph is attempted, no matter how the exposure is set, either the exterior is over exposed, or the interior is too dark.(see below)

The scene through the window is over-exposed.The interior is correct.	The scene through the window is correctly exposed but the interior is too dark

By using a program such as Photoshop™, the image with the correctly exposed window is  placed behind the image with the correctly exposed interior. (In Photoshop™   terms the two images are said to be in different "layers").

Using the "lasso" tool the outline of the window on the top image is traced and then cut out to remove the overexposed window and reveal the desired image below.

The composite picture.

Both  pictures were taken with the camera mounted on a tripod to ensure that the images matched. The difference in exposure was made by using the exposure compensation control of the Coolpix E-950. TIP: Use the Photoshop™ feather tool to soften the edge of the cut-out.