My intent was to create quite a dark image, especially all the elements apart from the candle. I also didn't want to blow the highlights of the candle. I took two exposures for this one and blended the brighter parts of the candle from the shorter exposure over the top of the rest of the scene from the longer exposure. The clock shows up the way I want it on my monitors, but I realise some people may have trouble seeing it. I hope most people can see the clock ok.

You may notice that the hands of the clock create an arc to more or less highlight the brightest part of the candle. It was night, but not 4:20 in the morning!