Help-Blown out sky!

Shot this today. Sun is off left side of pic (as you look at it) used fill-flash to try and retain some detail in sky. Shot with Kodak 200Gold. Am I right in thinking, that if I took a reading of sky only and used that as main exposure, use fill flash for subject, I should retain detail (sky was bright blue today) in sky? Your help is greatly appreciated. I dont have photoshop yet, and am trying to improve at the actual time the picture is taken. Thanks.

It's difficult to meter for this kind of shot, but if you meter for the sky, then use a fill flash you could get decent results.

I think the picture is a little over-exposed overall including the subject.

Thanks. It is another nice day today, going to try a few different shots. Would an ND filter help in any way?

Not for this kind of shot no, you'd get half of the subject's head in gradient also. Best to meter for the sky and fill-flash the subject IMO. Bracketing may help you glean a good exposure.

You could try to mask out the sky, then add a blue -> white gradient fill in to rescue this shot.

Thanks for the advice. Will work on it.

As per the forum guidelines, I'm attaching a quick edit. I selected the white sky area, and added a blue to white gradient fill of 30% opacity.

Wow, that's really neat how you did that ben. I hate when I get blown out sky's. It is always so disappointing.

There are a couple of "sky recovery" tutorials in our Photography Resources (http://www.photographycorner.com/photography-resources.php) section... ;)

I clicked on that link Tim and it said, "page cannot be displayed"....just checking for some new tutorials....;)

Ooops... should work now... sorry. LOL

Thanks. It does work now. Were you in that "dorky state of mind"... ;)?

My fix was a little more simple. I just selected the sky area (around the hat etc), then selected a "sky" blue and white colours, then set the gradient fill to about 30% opaque, and filled the sky area. It's a nice technique to do with grey skys too, almost like a gradient filter.

Wow! I am going to have to buy Photoshop! That looks much better. Thanks for your work, I appreciate it.