How to avoid overexposed skies ?

[sid]

Not sure where to post this, so if it's in the wrong forum, mods please move it to the appropriate forum.
Here is a picture I took a week ago. Nothing special about the picture itself, but I found that in almost all of the pictures I took near the lake, the sky came out overexposed. (I've had similar experiences taking pictures in the snow). So, my question is, how can I avoid this ? Will a circular polarizer help ? Or do I need a haze filter ?
Appreciate your help.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/svsid/6159dca3.jpg

[ssim]

A circular polarizer may help in this case but it appears that you are shooting into the sun and trying to expose for the motorbikes. If you were metering for the bikes in this case the highlights will be blown.

Shooting in RAW and doing two conversions and then blending them would yield a good image.

[12345Michael54321]

A polarizer may help. Maybe. It depends to a significant extent on the relative positions of you, your subject, and the sun.

As ssim notes, one option would be taking a RAW exposure, then making two conversions - one for the sky and one for the bikes - and digitally blending them. A similar approach would involve simply taking two exposures a few stops apart (adjusted by shutter speed, not aperture), and blending them.

Another is to employ a split field or graduated neutral density filter to knock down the sky a couple of stops, while leaving the motorcycles pretty much unchanged.

Regarding your question about using a haze filter - it will do nothing to address this situation.

[Curtis N]

Another possible solution, depending on your camera-to-motorcycle distance, might be to add some flash.

Shooting into the sun is always tough but I understand you don't always have the option of finding a beach on the other side of the lake.

[sid]

I have to try the RAW exposure and two conversions... Thanks for the suggestion :)
The other reason I brought up this question is : Would it be better to use filters when taking landscape photographs ? I'm going to be in Montana in a couple of weeks and wont be taking the computer along. I want to do my best to avoid overexposed landscapes... (I dont see myself going back there anytime soon...)
Of course I could shoot in RAW all the time, but then, I doubt that even 2GB worth of CF cards will be enough for a week :-?

[Mannytkd]

I think the probable way would be to use 2 option's here, 1 an ND grad filter or grad grey filter, yes you could do something in the editing stage but why not have ago at solving the situation first hand and then play at editing.....?

[jfrancho]

To under expose the sky in that shot, I'd say the only way is to use a flash. Make sure you meter the bikes. As you adjust exposure and flash output, you'll see subtle differences in how the sky is exposed. For example increase flash output, decrease exposure time, you'll get darker sky.

[jfrancho]

Oh yeah. With snow you'll want to set exposure compensation +1 to +1-2/3. Always check WB.