Appature settings?

[FireBeatle]

I took a photo in the Kruger National Park, but there were either clipped highlights or clipped lowlights. So I took 2 photos, I cut out the lowlights of the one picture and copied and pasted it to the other. Where the two pictures met, there were a slight line, and I blurred it out. The photo also had purple fringes between the wooden pillar on the left and the sky, witch I smudged out a little . Thirst of all: is there an easier way to do this for example, by merging the two images? And second: please comment on this image.
By the way I have and used Jasc Paint Shop Pro, and I used my dad's G2.:)
If you’d like I can put in the originals.
Thankyou!
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/FireBeatle/Toets2.jpg

[strmrdr]

turned out nice but crop out the tree

[Swift]

I agree with strmrdr,
Would look better if you cropped that tree off.

Otherwise, great photo :).

[FireBeatle]

Thank you, I wil do so!