40d trouble with exposure

[StormGirl_LP]

I shot an Elan II for 10 years and did OK, but always struggled with my budget for film. 4 years ago I bought to a Nikon Coolpix 4100. I planned to use it just for birthday parties, etc..., but it eventually became my only camera. It took some great images for what it was.

I just upgraded to a 40D and I LOVE it, but I'm finding that its tempermental with exposure. Its harder to get a well balanced shot...that exposure that makes the image just pop. Partly, I'm not liking my lowest ISO being 100. I was used to ISO 25 or 50.

Nikon 4100 P&S:



An image from the 40d is attached. I shot this with Tamron 100-300 at 300mm 5.6 @ 1/180. With all of the earth tones, the image is somewhat Blah. What would you have done differently?