Snaps

A good shot, but what were you trying to achieve when editing, Tez?

 

I know what you mean, Tez, but it is still a question of personal taste. I like the photo but it has the air of a stage photo, i.e: the foreground looks real but the background just looks like the backdrop of a stage, possibly because of the loss of sharpness? The sky is a problem for you as it is smooth cloud with no real contrast.
I think many photographers will tell you, and I'm sure you know already, that not every shot you take will turn out as you would want. How far you want to tweak and enhance a pic without losing it's natural look is again up to you. I've been learning to use Photoshop but to be honest there's a stage where I won't go beyond with a file as it's not the shot I took. I'd rather rely on trying to get the right exposure, shutter speed, white balance, and composition than have to struggle trying to rescue the shot. I have some shots that I've enhanced and just haven't been happy with the results as it somehow is not the shot I had in mind when I took it. That's photography for you.

 

Hi CK, Well, it's possible to set the camera to the conditions and I do.... sometimes!!! The exposure meter might have got confused with the grey sky and it might have been better to have got an exposure off the foreground. Sometimes, when in doubt, I'll set the camera to take 3 shots, one under exposed, one as per the reading, and one over exposed, in an attempt to get one right!!. It's difficult to do when it's pouring down though!!!