Hello Bob
It was in the back of my truck (black) outside in snow, light overcast afternoon daylight, no flash, camera was Sanyo xacti (which is really a small digital movie camera though it does take 10 mpixl stills) , all settings auto.
The only balance was my own as I was on ice on one leg as the dog was yanking on the other one, holding a tape measure and trying to focus while keeping myself for the most part out of the shot. (as me in a picture is far worse than an empty landscape.)
Cheese!!