C and C on these two bridge shots please...

[troyer16]

Was out and about and messing around with composition and took these two. The skies were both deathly white in each so i converted to BW. Any opinions? Also any help on how to not blow the sky out next time? Any of post processing attempts or anything is welcome too. Thanks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/troyer16/bwbridge3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/troyer16/bwbridge2.jpg

[Mstar]

Blown highlights is part of learning process which we are all going though, including myself. I recall taking a photo of a cockpit and I hoped to see the cockpit and what was through the window, however after viewing the photo, I had the image of the cockpit, but not what was out side it.

What I learnt was:
1) Look at the image on the camera screen and if it was blinking, you have lost all detail.
2) Understand histograms!
3) Understand metering
4) The latitude of a digital photo is similar to a slide.

To improve the problem, I do the following:
1) I under expose the photo to a degree.
2) I use a graduated filter
3) If the image is a good one, I'll use a tripod and take 1 photo of the shadows and then another one of the highlights and then use photoshop to merge both.

I am still learning and adapting what I do and I learn from others here! Yay!

[BottomBracket]

Try to take the picture on a cloudy day. Shooting during direct sunlight creates stark shadows - most areas are rendered underexposed and/or overexposed with not much of a middle ground. On cloudy days sunlight is diffused and is softer light is cast all around, and might make for a better picture.