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This image was shot on my Contax G1 with Fujifilm X-TRA 400 film. Though, this was my first time using the Contax TLA 200 Flash - so I did make some mistakes.
However most of the shots turned out accurately exposed and colors were really clear and balanced...except for a few shots (like the one below).
What could have caused this image to be muddy? Is it an element in the camera/film? Change in settings while using flash? Maybe a scanning error?
(click to expand image)
I wouldn't have used the term muddy.
What I think I'm seeing is several things, but I think it mostly relates to one key item.
There's no EXIF data, but it looks like you used a very large apeture maybe full open 2.8.
This in turn gave you a very shallow depth of field leading to much of the image being out of focus.
The wide aperature coupled with a low power flash results in a significant contribution of ambient light over a relatively slow shutter speed, partially negating the ability of an electronic high speed flash to freeze movement.
Lastly, a direct on-camera flash makes driver-license-pictures.
