kawecki,

The example you've presented is a very well known Photographic term, you learn in Photo 101, called "Backlighting."

There is a very simple solution, using an automatic 35mm SLR camera:  

1.)  Zoom in on your subject(In your case a tree;...about half as far away as you can see.) so only it fills the camera's view.  

2.)  Read what F-Stop, and Shutter Speed the camera has chosen for that spot.

3.)  Zoom out to your crop.

4.)  When your camera tells you the F-Stop and Shutter speed have changed; switch it Manual, a set the them to what they were at your Zoom.

5.)  Fire away!

What would have been a Washed Out sky is now just kinda bright.  And what would have been a heavily shadowed figure is now as good as you're going to get it.