No Flash Bracket - Will This Work?

[tim1960]

I don't have a flash bracket and was wondering if this would work. I have a 20D and the 430ex flash. When shooting a vertical shot, could I rotate the head of my flash 45 degrees or straight up and still get an OK shot? I'm going to be shooting inside which will have plenty of light anyway and just wondering if this method would work. My lense will probably be 28 - 135 or 70 - 200L 2.8. As I mentioned, I'll have plenty of light so would you recommend any camera and flash settings.

Tim

[mikesd]

Tim, I do not know of any way to keep from getting side shadow when shooting vertical using a flash without using a flip bracket. The flash has to stay above the lens to avoid this. I have tried everything I could think of but finally had to give in to a bracket, which is a pain to use but a much needed evil.

[tim1960]

Thanks mikesd. That's kinda what I figured but thought I'd ask anyway.

[mikesd]

Yea it sucks:cry:

[Headcase650]

you can soften the effect of side shadow by using a large bounce card and pointing the head straight up, anything to make the light source larger. Check out the video on Gary Fongs Lightsphere Site, or do a search for ABBC A better Bounce Card. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCmuExlHvM
This isnt the perfect solution but its second best to haveing a bracket. The better bounce card can be made for less than $4. Walmart craft section, foamies white 9x12" sheet 33cents, for the attachment band I use a bicycle inner tube $2.99, cut a 1 1/4" section, stretch it out over the head and it will work exactly like the video.

[PacAce]

I don't have a flash bracket and was wondering if this would work. I have a 20D and the 430ex flash. When shooting a vertical shot, could I rotate the head of my flash 45 degrees or straight up and still get an OK shot? I'm going to be shooting inside which will have plenty of light anyway and just wondering if this method would work. My lense will probably be 28 - 135 or 70 - 200L 2.8. As I mentioned, I'll have plenty of light so would you recommend any camera and flash settings.

Tim

If you rotate the head upwards so that all the light from the flash gets bounced off the ceiling and there is no direct light from the flash hitting the subject, you will not get any side shadows at all.

If your landscape shots are done with the flash pointed directly ahead and the portrait shots done with bounce, the lighting will not be consistent and so, will look different. If you bounce your flash all the time, the shots will all look consistent and may even look better than if taken with the flash pointed straight ahead.

[woffles]

Don't forget that you can bounce off a wall behind you and also get your subject away from the wall. Sometimes a bracket really comes in handy and you need it. I got lazy and wasn't using it for this outside shot and ended up with a side shadow. Really mad at myself for not bringing it.

http://static.flickr.com/99/305064777_bb6fc69c0f_o.jpg

[rklepper]

Here is a newton bracket that is a fairly good price. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=013&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=230055563137&rd=1&rd=1

[canonphotog]

Consider this...; When the 8.2mp sensors came out, a prominant wedding photographer made the statement that now he did not have to worry about turning the camera body to portrait orientation, He would frame it in landscape and crop the photo in post-processing.

If you were to apply the same methodology, then all you would need to do is worry about a diffuser for your flash.

The least expensive method (and probably the most self-satisfying) is to make your own diffuser.

If you have not been to http://www.abetterbouncecard.com/ yet, then it is definitely a site made for you.

Might even save you the cost of a flash bracket for the time being.

Ken

[tim1960]

Thanks all for your replys. I'll be experimenting with this situation today and we'll see how it goes.

Thanks again,
Tim