I am getting very confused about highlights in photographs. I see it often said that the highlights should not be blown in a photograph - is this always the case ? When is it bad and when is it good ? Has the above photograph got blown highlights? Are they good blown highlights or bad blown highlights? If I want to take realistic photographs shouldn't I blow out the highlights because when I walk out of my house into the sun I can't see anything but blown highlights with my eyes ? I would appreciate some guidlines on this, I'm one confused snapper :|

And every one said, 'If we only live,
We too will go to sea in a Sieve,---
To the hills of the Chankly Bore!'
Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, And they went to sea in a Sieve.

Edward Lear
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/jumblies.html