Need advice for exposure

I do shoot RAW+Jpeg, but my software doesn't work on this laptop - says Ineed a monitor resolution of at least 1024x 6xx (can't remember) even though my screen is 1280x720. So I uninstalled DPP, thinking I could re-install from Canon web site - wrong. So I'm without DPP for the vacation.

Lost track of time hanging out here - must get to the airport to pick up my nephew and sister.

I'd like to take a moment, though, to say "Thank You" to all the very generous POTN members here who have responded to my requests for help.

No doubt, with the database available here, there is not a question left to ask that hasn't already been answered, yet time and again, newcomers such as myself ask the same questions over and over, and the members here are the kind of people that, rather than say "try search, you lazy so-and-so", say "welcome to POTN, let me help you with your problem" - for that I am most grateful.

Perhaps someday, in the distant future, I can repay the kindness and answer a beginners question.

Another variant on your first shot. Adjustments were made in Lightroom, firstly by hitting "Auto Tone", and then adjusting a couple of sliders manually after that. It took maybe a minute or less. Even with the adjustments I have not pushed the histogram all the way to the right for the highlights, as that didn't really seem necessary. I'm sure with time, inclination and the original file to play with, there may be better options but this was the quick fix. You can see the adjustments on the right hand panel.

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If the light doesn't change, metering once will do it.

If you have clouds coming over, then meter for that exposure too, at a higher ISO, because you're using a f-stop & shutter speed you need, right? Remember the setting.
I can change ISO in about 2 seconds without taking the camera from my eye. It's really not that hard & if I'm 1/2 stop off sometimes, it's still better than using EC with Tv or Av, & RAW takes up the slack.
Did you look at how the subject affects the exposure in
Post # 47

Post #47

Yes, I looked at it yesterday and again today. I see the 'metered' parameters, which I think you're saying the camera is doing based on what you meter off of, change in the different shots of the field.

I will have to spend more time on Post #47 before I can see what/why settings are changing, and determine the difference between changes you are making and changes the camera is making on it's own.

All those exposure links you provided earlier will be valuable - when I have more time to study them.

The 50-500mm Sigma arrives today, and I've pretty much decided I bit off more than I can chew with that lens - too little margin for error and lots of work/skill to get full benefit of it. At least I will open the package and see what it feels like before I send it back. I got carried away with the bird shots the other day and wanted to be able to get the real 'close in' shots.