08-27-2014, 01:19 PM
Yes, shooting RAW will enable you to recover highlights and lift shadow detail much better than a jpeg will. If you expect to have difficult shots like this, by all means shoot RAW.
Or as eustace mentioned, take multiple shots, exposing for different elements of the photograph. If you do this you can merge to HDR (be subtle) or combine the two exposures manually and do exposure blending, which is much more time consuming and I'll even say, easier to do wrong than HDR.
Lastly, it helps to have it as correct as possible in camera. Try a circular polarizer next time.
Or as eustace mentioned, take multiple shots, exposing for different elements of the photograph. If you do this you can merge to HDR (be subtle) or combine the two exposures manually and do exposure blending, which is much more time consuming and I'll even say, easier to do wrong than HDR.
Lastly, it helps to have it as correct as possible in camera. Try a circular polarizer next time.