Tales from the darkside

Man oh man did this shot come out really dark! My issue is that I really liked the way the sky came out so blue in this first shot however I really dislike how dark the tree bark detail came out.


f/8
1/100 sec.
ISO-400
18 mm
WB-5200k (sun)
UV filter
Freehand
No Flash

f/8

1/40 sec.

ISO-400

18mm

WB-5200k (sun)

UV filter

Freehand

No flash

Couple of things that I may have been able to do to change things here.

1) Polarizing filter?

2) 1/60 sec. exposure ?

Anyone have any input on this? I actually had a similar situation yesterday afternoon where I had a foreground of snow with a mid of deciduous wooded area and an end field of a low sunlit, cloud tattered sky. I know it would have been a breathtaking shot if I nailed it. I still have to take a look at the exposures tonight to proof for the blog.

Thanks for looking !!

C~