Great suggestion, Phil. I just learned how to use spot-metering in my hp camera. It makes the whole experience much much more interesting. You can see examples from the recent gallery 'as the sun comes down'.
Simplify your images, Shirley, in the frame. Less can be more. The lone bird stepping on the horizon line
at upper left is a picture in itself.The rest of the picture just competes with it. I will send you a cropped version of it. Had you exposed for the sky next to the sun, the sun would have been darker and had some form as well. Do you have a spotmeter in your camera? If so, try using it to control exposure.
