IMO some scenes just have too much variance between highlight and shadow tones (I'm sure you know what I mean) to get a good exposure throughout the frame, especially with slide film and even more so with digital. IMO (and leave myself wide open to critique) exposing for the highlight and using PS to lighten the darker tones is an option worth considering, within reason. As for metering dont know, I find that centre weighted is a good option for most scenes, spot would be better but not an option I have without an external meter. How I would have gone about this shot I really dont know, I doubt I would have been this successful, I agree that PS is a good fixer but like you say its no miracle worker.

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