D40 picture

[gobigred5]

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[Foxx]

Well you nailed the focus but totally blew out the sky.

EDIT: take back the nailed, ALMOST nailed it. The edge(top left corner)of the bark is soft due to the wide aperature.

 

[gobigred5]

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[Foxx]

The difference in exposure between the tree and the sky are too great to do anything with one exposure without extra equipment so here are your options:

1) You can create a composite with a proper exposure of both the tree and sky

2) You can stop down the shutter speed/aperture and then use a flash to compensate for the underexposed tree.

3) Use an ND filter to darken the sky.

 

[gobigred5]

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[Vtec44]

ND filter in this case will darken everything. GND filter will darken 1/2 of the screen which won't work in this case. IMHO If you want details in the sky, you can expose for it then use supplemental light to light up the foreground.

 

[480sparky]

4. Use a flash to increase the light on the tree, thereby allowing you to close down the aperture and reduce the exposure of the sky.