Don't let the camera tell you how to expose a picture. In automatic mode the camera is programed to make a picture with a exposure of 18% grey, completely neutral. Now this may be good if you want to take a picture of your kids at a awards ceremony but it does not help you if you want to be a bit more creative.

Here at the air show with the dramatic clouds and the beach i turned the camera to Manual mode and picked a exposure that would not over expose the sky. Doing this it makes the scene much more dramatic and over all a more interesting picture. Don't be afraid to tell the camera to shut up, explore life outside of what is 18% grey.