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ok... without having all the detail of your full settings the difference comes down to simply shutter time... assuming both shots were using aperture priority the difference could be due to metering mode or simply where you're focal point was. You can probably so a lot with the second shot by simply increasing exposure compensation (assuming you took the pic in raw and have NC to work with) alternatively you could play with curves in PS to bring the pic out of the shadows.

Michael.

Can't determine from EXIF what metering mode was used. I suspect it might be spot or centre weighted with a sufficiently small centre. Pointed at tree trunk versus pointed at sky = vastly different exposures determined by camera.

To pull the details from the dark one, search the forum for "Contrast Mask". The technique is a little advance to state in simple steps - but maybe if you're coming to one of the PS workshops MattK would gladly show you how it's done.

The first thing that comes to mind leek is that they are not both the same. The aspect changes between the 2 pics and as such I would say that the metering point has changed as well!!!

Chris

Thanks all,

I tried the Contrast Mask (results here) and it has improved the pic enormously... It does seem to have introduced a grainy effect on the trunks though...

Hopefully MattK can show me how to do it correctly at the PS workshop on 5th Feb