Flash bracket for wedding only?

[danielyamseng]

Normally flash bracket is used mostly for wedding event.

How do you normally use the flash bracket?

Is it effective to use flash bracket for the following:-

i) Concert/performance
ii) Fashion show

[viet]

i) no
ii) no
Flash bracket is normally used to remove red-eye and get better shadow placement. Both don't apply to your questions unless you get right on stage next to the performers.

Bracket is also used for convenient, like shooting event portraits, not just for weddings. I personally haven't touched a bracket for a long time, it's just easier for me to move around with lighter gear. I've seen a lot of others use them though.

Normally flash bracket is used mostly for wedding event.

How do you normally use the flash bracket?

Is it effective to use flash bracket for the following:-

i) Concert/performance
ii) Fashion show

[danielyamseng]

viet, that mean it's only effective if the subject is near the camera? For event like performance/concert where the subject is far from the camera the effect is the same as mounting the flash directly onto the hotshoe,is it?

[pointstores]

My understanding is that it is to get the flash away from the lens

[runninmann]

i) no
ii) no
Flash bracket is normally used to remove red-eye and get better shadow placement. Both don't apply to your questions unless you get right on stage next to the performers.

Bracket is also used for convenient, like shooting event portraits, not just for weddings. I personally haven't touched a bracket for a long time, it's just easier for me to move around with lighter gear. I've seen a lot of others use them though.There could still be a need/desire to keep the flash above the lens for "better shadow placement" even in those types of situations. If you're shooting in portrait orientation, a bracket would help.

[Wilt]

I agree with runninmann...redeye is only one of several reasons to use a flash bracket, and getting the shadow to 'fall behind' the main subject is a key reason. When you rotate the camera to Portrait orientatin, keeping the flash directly over the lens axis helps to continue to 'hide' the shadow behind the subject.

[viet]

There could still be a need/desire to keep the flash above the lens for "better shadow placement" even in those types of situations. If you're shooting in portrait orientation, a bracket would help.

True, but I've shot both concert & fashion shows. You don't get no where high enough to get the shadow where you want. Unless you are right next to the performers, or on the same level with them, which was what I should have said. Other situations, like event portraits that I said, a bracket is useful.

[Wilt]

True, but I've shot both concert & fashion shows. You don't get no where high enough to get the shadow where you want. Unless you are right next to the performers, or on the same level with them, which was what I should have said. Other situations, like event portraits that I said, a bracket is useful.


The right bracket can greatly improve things even at distance from the subject, by keeping the flash above the axis of the lens, here are some crops taken from shots with camera in Portrait orientation, shot at a somewhat upward angle like one might with models on a runway. (shots made with naked flash lens to maximize shadow edges, no modifiers used at all)

at 10' from subject (ceramic) which is about 20' from the wall in background
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i63/wiltonw/IMG_1756.jpg

at 20' from subject (ceramic) which is about 20' from the wall in background
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i63/wiltonw/IMG_1757.jpg

One can see that as distance from subject increases, the angle formed between lens axis and flash axis becomes narrower (which is why flash at longer distance can show more redeye than at closer distance). If the subject was a human one, the shadow of the head (the ceramic, in the example) would be hidden by the wider torso (rather than visible due to the narrower speaker the ceramic was placed upon)

[Titus213]

Generally the flash mounted on the hot shoe is sufficient to control most red eye. I use a bracket to keep the flash over the lens and control shadow placement as aptly illustrated above by Wilt.

[cdifoto]

I don't use a bracket for redeye. I never shoot flash direct as my main source. I use a bracket because it maintains my bounce position with minimal fiddling between horizontals and verticals. Subject matter or genre is irrelevant...assuming of course that flash is appropriate in the first place.

[danielyamseng]

If that's the case I think I'll use flash bracket then. Usuallly if I was shooting a performance/concert where the subject is far away from me, I'd use direct flash because I think any flash modifier would be wasting the flash power.
( Let me know if the approach was wrong)

Now I was thinking of using a flash bracket even for these type of event.

May I know which flash bracket should I get? Is it ok to get a cheapo one or the one from Really Right Stuff one?

What's the different between the cheap on and the expensive one?

Lastly any advice which flash cable shall I get?

Any pointer from which store I can get the best bargain?

[Wilt]

RRS, Custom Bracket, and Newton Brackets...all three are professional caliber products, all in the $200-300 range, so not well suited for hobbyists looking for something around $100 or less. The pro wedding shooters who have bought the Newton after my recommendation have come to love them, and become staunch supporters to others as well! www.newtoncamerabrackets.com

The RRS and Newton are both very sturdy yet fairly light weight; the CB is heavier than both.

[danielyamseng]

Wilt, what does the more expensive RRS and Newton offers besides better build?

[Wilt]

Wilt, what does the more expensive RRS and Newton offers besides better build?

Of the three, the Newton is the least pricey.

Newton is very sturdy, quite compact, easily is adjusted to accomodate a wide variety of cameras (I can use the same bracket on my Canon dSLR and on my medium format film SLR with motor drive), fits both the big bodied 1Dn and the smaller bodies with and without a battery grip. The FR version is a mere 8 oz. in weight. And the flash stays directly above the lens axis, regardless of camera orientation. It can be made up by Bill Newton to work with Arca-type QR plates.

The RRS is a bit less compact, costs more (what from RRS doesn't?!), weighs close to the same as the (heavier) Newton camera rotator version. It is designed from the start to work well with Arca-style QR

[Familiaphoto]

Newton and RRS brackets are both top notch. I went with RRS as the design just appealed to me more and I was already a user of their L-Brackets, etc.

[stathunter]

I have never been a fan of flash brackets----I like to go a little more streamline (with 2-3 bodies during a wedding--if that is streamline)

[bobbyz]

For folks who don' use bracket how do you shoot in portrait mode, with flash on the side?

[viet]

Cool model Wilt :D

But distance wasn't what I meant. I meant the height between you & the performers. The lowest catwalk I've shot was about 4 feet high, the tall ones I shot about 7 to 8 feet. Unless you are on the same level as the catwalk, or you are 20 feet tall, the flash bracket doesn't help much.

Same with concerts, they stick you on the front where the performers are always at least 7 feet above you. Unless you shoot from far away on another platform of the same height, brackets don't help here either. If you do loud concerts, however, I'd recommend ear plugs instead of brackets. They are more useful.

The right bracket can greatly improve things even at distance from the subject, by keeping the flash above the axis of the lens, here are some crops taken from shots with camera in Portrait orientation, shot at a somewhat upward angle like one might with models on a runway. (shots made with naked flash lens to maximize shadow edges, no modifiers used at all)

at 10' from subject (ceramic) which is about 20' from the wall in background
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i63/wiltonw/IMG_1756.jpg

at 20' from subject (ceramic) which is about 20' from the wall in background
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i63/wiltonw/IMG_1757.jpg

One can see that as distance from subject increases, the angle formed between lens axis and flash axis becomes narrower (which is why flash at longer distance can show more redeye than at closer distance). If the subject was a human one, the shadow of the head (the ceramic, in the example) would be hidden by the wider torso (rather than visible due to the narrower speaker the ceramic was placed upon)

[viet]

For folks who don' use bracket how do you shoot in portrait mode, with flash on the side?

With flash pointed up / side to bounce, crank up ISO to compensate. Fairly easy once you done it long enough.

[Wilt]

Cool model Wilt :D

But distance wasn't what I meant. I meant the height between you & the performers. The lowest catwalk I've shot was about 4 feet high, the tall ones I shot about 7 to 8 feet. Unless you are on the same level as the catwalk, or you are 20 feet tall, the flash bracket doesn't help much.

Same with concerts, they stick you on the front where the performers are always at least 7 feet above you. Unless you shoot from far away on another platform of the same height, brackets don't help here either. If you do loud concerts, however, I'd recommend ear plugs instead of brackets. They are more useful.

Glad you like 'her':cool: ...I quit keeping fashion models lying around the house all the time, once I got married. My wife tends to be rather unreasonable that way, but since she lets me buy my photographic toys, I humor her.;)

My point was merely to illustrate that a flash bracket will drop the shadow downward 'behind the subject', and this would remain true even with higher elevation of the subject. I knew your point was not distance related, but I wanted to show the same effect 'up close' (10') vs farther away.

Here is a shot just taken, with a greater elevational difference. Unforunately my house is not blessed with 15-20' ceilings so I am limited in what I could show. But as can be seen in this shot, the shadow still drops DOWN behind the subject.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i63/wiltonw/IMG_1760.jpg