I reviewed all the advice here then took myself on a mini photo outing this afternoon.
imagemeister - yes, I do pp although these were untouched so that you could see what my problem was, and yes, I am fairly new to this camera. I've had it about 10 months and the first 6 months I was travelling extensively with minimal equipment and trying to learn the camera as I went along. Now I'm serious about getting in sync with it.
RichardTaylor - Vibrance was the key! I have discovered there is more than one vibrance application in the menu. Bingo. It was hidden under the 'creative style' tab where I am given options to increase or decrease contrast, saturation and sharpness.
Newsbob - my intent is to get it right in camera as much as possible without being obsessive. It's more fun shooting than messing around on the computer for me.

Thanks for all the input. It has really helped!! I still have work to do but huge progress was made today thanks to this group.

Same day, early morning, with the histogram in camera saying the exposure was within the side boundaries. Still on auto ISO and the camera choosing 800. F13, matrix metering. Obviously auto ISO isn't working for me but not much else is, either, :( The sunrise was rich with colour. Sony disagreed.

This one (above post) is on auto ISO, with the camera choosing 800. Using aperture priority and matrix metering. Histogram shows slight overexposure but fairly even exposure through out the image.

Yes, RG, the problem exists over all the day light hours. I'll attach another shot within 2 hours of dawn.

Thank you everyone for your responses.

Thanks, imagemeister. I always use the viewfinder and am adjusting according to the histogram. Perhaps the movement of the horse threw the adjustment out and I didn't correct quickly enough. It was a very bright day and the horses are typically quite dark so I was 'trying' for midrange tones. But even in the scenic shots I am having issues. Quite sure it is operator error, though :(

Camera used: Sony a6000 with either of the two kit lenses that came with it - 16-50 or 55-210
My problem is the images are all very washed out. I've messed around with different settings, watched youtubes and HDR but not having much success especially when shooting outdoors. I am shooting in fine jpg and I don't use filters. Any input may help, lol.
#1: Kid on tractor: 1/400, f8, ISO 500, AP, centreweighted focusing
#2: Santa in buggy: 1/640, f6.3, ISO 320, shutter priority, spot metering (probably on the horse's rump).

I use my histogram when shooting and always keep the highlights within the graph and yet on my computer and to my eye they appear overexposed. Both these were shot early afternoon but I can show the same issues earlier or later in the day.

Thanks.

Wow, this is all over the place. I think of artists who do decoupage, which by it's very nature is images from print media, would all be copyright infringers. Where could I look for a legal answer?

Saw a lady selling note cards at a craft fair using the thumbnail images from the back of scenic calendars. Is that a copy write infringement? She wasn't claiming the photos as hers. I'm thinking that the calender publisher would have already paid for the use of the images through photo stock, so re-using them wouldn't be a problem. However, someone else suggested that the calender pics are still covered by copy write and that the lady selling the cards at the craft fair should pay the photographer further copy write money?? Any ideas?

Thanks, Jeff. Good insights here. I have noticed that I have to continue to charge the batteries for a while after they say they are at 100%, but I don't mind that. I do enjoy the camera and I am still learning different aspects of it. It can surely produce an amazing image when the .. uh hum....operator is on her game, lol. Thank you for your help - and you have helped :)

Nope. It was a wonderful balmy day around 62-65.F

Hank, I think that is what is the issue was. I do normally use manual or AF-A. I switched it up over the weekend as I was snapping the moving horses.

Cheers!

Good idea. I did check at one point and it was at 51% and then it was exhausted very quickly there after after on taking a few more images. I think Hank hit the nail on the head when he referred to the AF-C button.

Bingo!! I was using AF-C for tracking the show jumping. Well called, Hank! Thank you. It didn't occur to me that the pull on the battery would be so great but, in hind sight, of course it is. There is more jumping today so I may spend an hour or so just using manual focus and see what difference it makes.

Thanks, Hank. That has given me a place to start looking. I don't want to have to go and buy more batteries after only a few months use.

I knew when I bought the camera 10 months ago that the battery life wasn't great, so I bought a spare. Yesterday at the county fair I had left home with two fully charged batteries and a battery pack. Shooting hi-res jpg I had maxed out both my batteries after only 270 images total! By using the battery pack I limped in with another 15 images. What the heck!!! I didn't shoot video, only occasionally 'chimped' when the lighting was tricky and never used bracketing or burst mode.

My questions to you are is this a symptom of dying batteries or perhaps something else is going on? Or is this normal behavior for the Sony a6000?