On Camera Flash Help

[adam8080]

Right now I have an OLD Sunpak 433 D thyristor flash. I'm not really happy with the images that I get with it in certain situations like this:
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/1776/img5424kg4.jpg
I'm not able to bounce off the ceiling always, and when I can, I have to use more power which means longer recycling times. I've looked at diffusers for the flash unit (I'll also have to use more power/longer recycle times), and I'm not sure if that would be the best way to go to get rid of the harsh shadows. I could make a custom bracket to hold the flash much closer to the lens to get rid of most of the shadows. I've looked at ringlights (which aren't wide or powerful enough), different flashes with different diffusers, and thought about getting another flash and using one on each side of the camera. I'll mainly use this with my 10-22mm and 24-60mm lens, and whatever I do, it needs to be hand holdable and portable. Can someone help point me in the right direction. Right now I'm leaning towards a Canon 430 or 420 with a diffuser. I'd love to be able to use high speed sync too, but isn't necessary. Also, this is only for when f/2.8 or f/1.8 isn't fast enough at ISO 3200.

[nadtz]

A diffuser that sat on the flash isnt going to make the apparent light source large enough to get rid of the shadows. If you cant bounce your light the next best thing would be to get the flash(es) off the camera if possible. A flash on each side of the lens I'm pretty sure would get you 2 less harsh shadows, not no shadow at all, and there are powerful ringflash units out there but I doubt you want to tote those around. I'm sure others will be of more help, good luck!

[adam8080]

Thanks for the help.

[Titus213]

Does your bracket keep the flash over the lens? That generally pushes the shadow down behind the subject. Once you get the flash over the center of the lens the diffuser - Lumiquest ProMax System - will soften the light for you.

[Jim M]

This picture looks like you had the flash on the hot shoe and the camera was tilted so that the flash was to the left side of the camera from the photographer's perspective. That put the shadow on the subject's left side and into the direction he is looking. Tilting the camera the other way would have put the shadows behind the subject and therefore would have been less obtrusive.

The best bet is a bracket such as the one mentioned in the post above. I'm not a huge fan of small diffusers for anything other than closeups.

[adam8080]

I really hadn't though anything about the way I was tilting the camera. I will definitely look into a bracket. Thanks guys.