[skipper954]

I really like the effect here. The softness of the tulips is very evocative.

Yes, the blown far candle is a problem, as you know. Expanded dynamic range imaging is an option, but you need a tripod and probably a cable or wireless shutter release for that. You might be able to bracket 3 images, but it is possible that the exposure differences would not be great enough.

Finally, you could reframe so that the candle is out of the image, or have someone hold the candle out of the frame. But that would also change the light on the flowers.

I also wonder about spot metering on the candle then bringing out the shadows in ps, but that would probably be a lousy image b/o noise.

Bottom line, either edr or reframing are your best bets.

skip