Yes that's a good use of your camera knowledge....the main thing is that your output looks real world as it was when you saw it imo....sometimes the highlights and lens flare can be used to your advantage....not necessarily a bad thing. A camera hood helps but depends on the angle of the light to camera.
But I'm guessing you can't put a hood on your lens??
Awesome colours and reflections in the water
Yup, there's a hood available for it, plus an adapter ring to turn it into a 58mm so I can use other accessories.
Camera knowledge: I'm definitely still learning, and have a hell of a lot left to learn. But I do know I would not have been able to take the pic below, 2 months ago. It would have blown highlights all over the place.
It amazes me how some clouds and a bit of light, can turn a puddle in a paddock into this:
