Need some advice please!

[Adeliz]

Hi

I've been shooting environmental portraits, for a college project. I'm using the 10D with a speedlite, mounted on the camera. AWB is set and i'm using the speedlite on Manual.

The metering is set to 'evaluative', something has gone wrong, the blacks on the portrait, appear pixelated, but the skin tone is exposed correctly.

Would setting the camera to partial metering sort the problem out?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks

[PhotosGuy]

1. That's not a great title if you expect help?
2. It's always good to give an image with the exif intact when you ask for help with a specific image problem.
3. AWB is set AWB isn't very good indoors & I don't use it outdoors, either. Notice that the very last exposure in the 2nd group of tests was of a gray card, & it's way off.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54281
4. the blacks on the portrait, appear pixelated What ISO? That could be noise, which might be normal in a dark part of a properly exposed image at high ISOs. Was the image underexposed at all?

And, are you using the flash for fill?
Maybe you don't need it at all if you can shoot in the shade. Here's an excellent example of what you can do with a cam, lens, & the right natural light with manual exposure. Notice the detail in the black coat & white boa.
Angeline outdoors (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=483975)

[Adeliz]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I'm new to the forum, so will take your tips on board.

ISO was set at 100, so wouldn't be the problem. I'm using the flash mounted on the camera, so not as fill, but because the environment was poorly lit, to light the subject. ie. location lighting as if in a studio. Hope that makes sense.

What would you recommend setting my camera too, if using the speedlite on manual? I can see from you link how problems are caused with AWB. A

[amonline]

environmental portraits ...I'm using the 10D with a speedlite ...the blacks on the portrait, appear pixelated, but the skin tone is exposed correctly
My guess is that your backgrounds may be bright and your settings are probably not optimal for the balance of light - thus, creating high contrast and you are pixel peeping the shadows to see the noise. In other words, it sounds like sensor is metering something bright. You'll most likely need to recompose, stop down and/or adjust some settings both on the cam and flash to balance the light better.

Post a (crop 100%) and a full resized sample(s).

[PhotosGuy]

What would you recommend setting my camera too, if using the speedlite on manual? I'd set the cam on manual, too. Read post #3
Tips for Xmas Ball Please (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=419399)

And as I said in #2, & Alan said, "Post an image." If you need help with that:
Tutorial: How to attach photos to a post (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=160897)

[Adeliz]

Image is attached. I always shoot on Manual, I meant what to use instead of AWB. I was told by a tutor not to set to flash, even when using a speedlite, but to go with AWB.

Hopefully the image will shed a bit of light!

Thanks so much for your help

[PhotosGuy]

I was told by a tutor not to set to flash, even when using a speedlite, but to go with AWB. I have no idea why he would say that & would never use it. AWB is so far off indoors that the flash WB will be much closer for me. Notice that the very last exposure in the 2nd group of tests was of a gray card, & it's way off.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54281

[Adeliz]

Yes, I see the difference with the AWB on.

I should stick with the flash setting then?

[PhotosGuy]

I should stick with the flash setting then? To start with, it should be much better. When you're comfortable with it, try a Custom WB with the flash only.

[Tee Why]

Is there any processing to the shots, especially to lighten the image? If so, this could cause noise in the dark area of the photo.

The image is pretty small, can you also post a larger version or an area where the pixilation is?