Congratulations to your promotion and your 500th posting,
gaius julius 
And, I did not wish that you cut your pictures. It is merely advisable before using the automatic contrast function because a very large portion of light areas results in a more intensified darkening of the colored main part of the picture. As I use only normal daylight probably due to similar reasons as you I normally use graphic programms to intensify the therefrom resulting low contrast (with the effects you said you want to avoid).
So please do not mind my upper suggestion. Now I understand completely your intentions.
