Pic help please

[Eggle]

OK.
First play with the nifty 50 and I have problems.
My question has 2 parts.
1st, how is the best way to recover this photo?
2nd. What can I do to get it right next time?
Camera 20D.Set on evaluative metering. AWB

[01101001]

taken in raw?

[Eggle]

01101001 said:

taken in raw?

I have it in RAW and jpeg.

[Simpo Two]

If you try to lighten the face from that much underexposure it will probably be so noisy as to be unusable.

Next time look at the difference betwen the lighting on the subject and background and plan ahead - either expose for the face and let the b/g go over (use +EV or spot metering if you have it), or use fill-flash to even up the difference.

[Eggle]

I did try fill in flash, but I thought it made her too light.
The options I have are Evaluative, Partial or centreweighted average metering.

[Gemm]

I'd say try fill-in flash with reduced flash exposure compensation, probably -2/3 or so.

[Simpo Two]

Gemm said:

I'd say try fill-in flash with reduced flash exposure compensation, probably -2/3 or so.

Yep, you can adjust both the flash value and the exposure value to balance the two light sources (flash and ambient). That said, the in-camera flash does not give very flattering results. Sometimes it's best to wait until the subject is better lit, rather than try to control the environment too much.

[RobDickinson]

Yep touch of flash but not full whack, onboard flash isnt too hot so I'd probably try exposing for the kid and blowing the background a bit, or try a happy medium.

[01101001]

upload the raw and i will give it a go

[Eggle]

01101001 said:

upload the raw and i will give it a go

Thanks, but to where. It is 7.4Mb?

[dibbly dobbler]

Eggle said:

Eggle - hope you don't mind me having a quick go in PSE. A wee bit better I think

[Eggle]

I am so so impressed. Nigel Paul on Talk Photography has done this!
Wow.
I just need to work out what he has done.
He says "Had a go at recovering the pic. Used levels, lightened the eyes and used a Nik Gold Reflector. Also, Topaz denoise to soften the skin. Downside is bg gets a bit too bright. Tried to recover the bg by selecting the subject, inverse the selection, levels and then filling any white with blue using the paintbrush."

[dibbly dobbler]

Oof - impressive!

[rottie102]

Really well done!

[Eggle]

I wish I could learn how ge did it.

[Simpo Two]

To be frank whilst it's a great result, you'd be better off learning how to avoid the problem in the first place - and then you'll be out taking proper photos not hunched over a computer screen Such 'plastic surgery' is handy to know for emergencies but should not be relied upon...

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 18th May 09:30

[Eggle]

Simpo Two said:

To be frank whilst it's a great result, you'd be better off learning how to avoid the problem in the first place - and then you'll be out taking proper photos not hunched over a computer screen Such 'plastic surgery' is handy to know for emergencies but should not be relied upon...

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 18th May 09:30

This is what I want to learn.
I spent 2 hours last night connected to my powerbook taking shots with different settings, seeing what worked and what didn't.
My flash has also turned up today, so many more fun hours will be spent.