Screenshots, the art of:
What YOU see may look good. But then hit F3, F8, and check out the OTHER side of the plane. The one that's facing the sun. It looks way better.
Do this, in your text buffer type ".time xx yy z" xx = hours, (24 hr clock), yy = mins (a single digit seems to work, or you can prefix with zero as in "7 5" or "7 05" for 7:05am. z = multiplier. How fast time moves. Zero here means time freezes (good for setting up screenshots.
Now for one pic, take off, gear up, set your time to about 7:30 am (.time 7 30 0). Find the profile of your plane facing the sun. If headed into/away from, turn plane around 80-110 degrees either way. Find angle, take screenshot.
NOW, type ".time 14 00 0". Find a better shot (get some alt, better to contrast against the backdrop with). Find angle facing sun, take picture.
NOW type ".time 12 00 0", get a top-down type of screenshot. THEN, set camera up on your belly so you like the angle, roll stick over completely til belly is facing sun, take screenshot fast, recover plane to level flight.
Review screenshots in AHII director. Think about what angles you want. Find time/angle of sun/position of plane to create what you want.