Granted I'm using a entry level camera but I want to really evolve and learn exposure before moving on. Is this photo under exposed? Should I use an external flash in these situations? I did edit this photo in lighroom to give it the HDR look obviously but I just want feedback to see if i'm heading in the right direction.
Thanks
Overall I feel you are heading in the right direction.
The only thing I have to comment on is please do not shoot on railroad tracks. Not only is it illegal, it is very dangerous. Railroad tracks, even "abandoned" ones, are private property and could become active at any time.
http://oli.org/news/view/operation-lifesaver-urges-professional-photogra...
https://www.amtrak.com/photography-video-recording-policy
It is hard to say if it is underexposed. I suspect it is, but so little that it does not matter. Rather the editing is incomplete. In simple terms you need to, at the very least, brighten the dark tones, a bit. This could have been done with a light or can be done in LIghtroom or Photoshop, for instance. I might also brighten the highlights, just a very small amount, too. Don't loose the blue in the sky just lift it, ever so slightly.
working on this in Lightroom now.
https://fstoppers.com/photo/106215 - here is my adjustment after your suggestion.
A good start. Now I would dodge the brighter areas of her jacket and hair and maybe the darker areas of her face, all to make her stand-out just a touch. I would consentrate on her right side, camera left, as that is the side where we see the daylight coming from.
Good work.
Yes, it is slightly underexposed, but I think it is the composition that jumps out more to me. She is neither filling the frame, nor off-center enough to be aesthetically pleasing. If shooting a shot like this, which has leading lines, pay strict attention to them, because the eye is naturally going to follow them. The fact that she is not centered on the train tracks, or in the photo, takes your eyes away from the portrait and makes them focus on the composition. The exposure is something that is different for every person, depending on the look/mood you want to achieve. I definitely like the version you posted in the comment above better than the original. It pops more...
Thanks for the feedback - I was actually trying to go for a different angle and not keep her centered, but I do understand what you mean in regards to the eyes of the viewer following something else in the picture rather than the person. I've been told that rule specifically when it comes to drawing.
Thanks again
No problem at all! Throwing someone off-center is a sticky, gray area. If they're not centered perfectly, but not really off to the side, it can go either way. Feel free to reach out for any other portrait advice!