Photo problems

[Anthony]

Just back from a trip to France and I have a couple of questions about some of the photos I took. I think I know what some of the problems are but would appreciate confermation and any ways to over come the problems.
These are untouched original CR2 files from a Canon 500d converted to jpg by Picasa on upload.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_twXBe0RgCpI/THK4HsNqC8I/AAAAAAAAANg/f_0yEfILXOk/IMG_1257.jpg
Problem - lens flair
Fix - buy a lens hood

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_twXBe0RgCpI/THK4H-vPf4I/AAAAAAAAANk/0kZaZD9onyY/s576/IMG_1403http://lh4.ggpht.com/_twXBe0RgCpI/THK4IixHYdI/AAAAAAAAANo/wLScil3Yfm0/s576/IMG_1415.jpg
Problem - Over exposed
Fix - Use spot metering ( I tend to use Evaluate metering on everything as that is how the camera came ! )
Fixed at the time by under exposing by 1.3 stops in the second photo.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_twXBe0RgCpI/THK4HOfaviI/AAAAAAAAANc/YV0hdJXXv2U/IMG_1232.jpg
Problem - Shadow
Fix - Go at different time of day :rolleyes: Trouble is I went 4 times and there was only one time when a car was not parked in front of the garage.

I suppose some of the problems can be fixed on the PC but it would be better not to get them in the first place.

[SpecialK]

The problems and answers look OK.

Always use a hood - even if just for protection.

I never recommend spot-metering.

As a far as the shadows and car in the way...it's timing, and luck...

[Csae]

Spot metering is very tricky and you must know exactly what you are doing to get it right on a consistent basis, i also don't suggest spot metering.

Learn your camera, and dial in EV as needed, don't be afraid to look at your LCD to see whether or not its needed.

[Anthony]

Thanks for the replys and confermations.

I did get a better version of the first photo ( by accident ) at a slightly different angle but looks like a lens hood would be a good investment.

As I say I have not tried any other metering modes yet but noticed the problem through the LCD and changed the EV so do have some good versions of the flower. It is something I have noticed before on other photos and tend to check that every time. looks as though it would be the way to go rather than spot metering which was an after thought.

The garage was just bad luck; as I say I tried multiple times but it was down a small road and there were shadows all day except late afternoon when the owner must have been back from work. I suppose I could have tried contacting them and asking if they could move it for a while but I always feel embarrassed doing things like that. As it was while I was there the local authority guy parked a van in the way and we had a discussion about moving the van me in English and him in French :rolleyes:

[SpecialK]

You could always bracket the exposure, like for the flower. I go a full stop difference. That way you won't be more than 1/2 stop from the correct exposure (assuming you were close to start with), well withing RAW processing limits.