Originally posted by twilhelm Using a fill flash on the subject is the best method. The problem is, there is too great of a difference in the EV (light) values between the bright sky and the subject. A flash will brighten the subject and close that gap.
Also, what do you use for post processing? It takes a little trial and error, but if the difference isn’t too great, you can expose for the brighter area, and bring the shadows up in post. The Pentax cameras maintain a lot of detail in shadows that you initially can’t see, but blown highlights are gone forever.
I use the flash when I can: in close portraits, the camera flash (which is still hard to use when people wear glasses or are particularly sensible and always close their eyes, plus it's hard to get the right compensation, -0.3, -1... or else the faces are too bright! it's like the camera is metering before the flash light is added, so it's always too much light...); in greater groups, an external if I have it with me (not always, you know...). It does help, but still... I don't know if I should fire at the first curtain, the second or when, it's complicated stuff.
As for processing, I use Darktable. I can usually get a lot from shadows, but it sometimes creates artifacts like auras around the people and weird colors on the noses, for example... Maybe I should try another program for those hard cases? RawTherapee anybody?
Thanks!