On ferry from Port Hardy (Vancouver Island)

it's a morning shot and to me it looks underexposed. is there a way

to tell this in advance? i guess this is a long-answer question.

I see your concern for under exposure. Honestly it is really subjective. Photography after all is an art form. Nevertheless, I think you wanted to expose the scene as you saw it with your eye. If I'm correct next time keep the bright sky out of your viewfinder when you meter the scene. That is why the land mass is so dark. Overall, it's a good picture but clearly your idea was to see more detail in the land mass. I hope this helped you out.

Gorgeous. It may just as likely not improve if details the landmass are made visible.