How To Use A Flash Bracket + Umbrella?

Could someone give me the basic rundown of how one might use a setup like this to shoot people portraits?

Do you turn the flash up all the way and use shutter speed to achieve proper exposure? Do you leave flash in ETTL, and experiment with shutter speed to get a good balance of ambient light and flash? Do something else?

http://www.alzodigital​.com …_bracket_umbrel​la_kit.htm

Also, do you any of you have an opinion on the Alzo Flash Bracket Umbrella? Is there a better journalistic-on-the-go type accessory?

Thanks for your time! Best wishes!

First let me say, I cannot imagine using that setup with any kind of wind blowing. You will never be able to hold the camera still with a sail like that hanging off the bracket.
Shutter speed has very little control over flash exposure. It is mostly flash power setting, distance to subject and aperture that control the flash exposure. I like to have my camera in manual mode and set to get the ambient exposure that i am looking for and then if the scene is changing I have the flash in eTTL and use FEC to control the flash power. If the scene is constant I place the flash in manual also and use the power control to adjust the flash exposure. If you run out of flash power you have to turn the camera ISO up.

Right! Shutter speed controlling flash. DX

I zoned out there. D;

So then, you don't recommend the bracket? Do you recommend any bracket, or any other similar accessory?

SunnyOctopus wrote in post #12025315
Could someone give me the basic rundown of how one might use a setup like this to shoot people portraits?

Do you turn the flash up all the way and use shutter speed to achieve proper exposure? Do you leave flash in ETTL, and experiment with shutter speed to get a good balance of ambient light and flash? Do something else?

http://www.alzodigital​.com …_bracket_umbrel​la_kit.htm

Also, do you any of you have an opinion on the Alzo Flash Bracket Umbrella? Is there a better journalistic-on-the-go type accessory?

Thanks for your time! Best wishes!

How you use it depends on how you are triggering your flash. The setup shown in the link has an ETTL flash cord attached so that using the umbrella would be no different than using it in the hotshoe. You could also have a manual wireless trigger setup if you wish, but I dont know why you would. That said, I cant imagine using that setup at all. Alzo has a softbox version that would be more realistic. When you say journalistic on the go, what exactly do you mean? No journalist on earth would carry that for fear of being laughed out of the room, but then journalism isnt about soft light portraits either.

can probably replace the umbrella with a westcott softbox. might help a little, but still not windproof.

it uses an umbrella frame.

http://www.amazon.com …TF8&qid=1300216​255&sr=8-2

gonzogolf wrote in post #12025419
How you use it depends on how you are triggering your flash. The setup shown in the link has an ETTL flash cord attached so that using the umbrella would be no different than using it in the hotshoe. You could also have a manual wireless trigger setup if you wish, but I dont know why you would. That said, I cant imagine using that setup at all. Alzo has a softbox version that would be more realistic. When you say journalistic on the go, what exactly do you mean? No journalist on earth would carry that for fear of being laughed out of the room, but then journalism isnt about soft light portraits either.

I guess I mean a setup that one can run with and and quickly take pictures without having to setup light stands, or anything.

Should I just get a bracket without an umbrella, then? Which one should I get? I already have an off camera-sync cord from ZebraMan that is too short for me to imagine using it for anything but a flash bracket.

have you considered something like this?

http://www.custombrack​ets.com …rackets/cb-digital-s.html

SunnyOctopus wrote in post #12025465
I guess I mean a setup that one can run with and and quickly take pictures without having to setup light stands, or anything.

Should I just get a bracket without an umbrella, then? Which one should I get? I already have an off camera-sync cord from ZebraMan that is too short for me to imagine using it for anything but a flash bracket.

Alzo makes the same setup with a 12 inch softbox that would be less awkward than that umbrella monstrosity. http://alzodigital.com …_porta_flash_so​ft_box.htm

But what you actually want may not exist, big soft light, without the work to get it. Here is a different approach.

http://www.bhinsights.​com …/just-give-me-f-stop.html

Brendo666 wrote in post #12025499
have you considered something like this?

http://www.custombrack​ets.com …rackets/cb-digital-s.html

No, I haven't, thank you!

I guess I just want the best practical solution to get my flash a little further from my camera without stands.

they make a foldable version of that bracket as well. I used to have it. it folds down pretty flat for easy storage.

may want to check that version out.

Not to disagree with brendo, but if you get a bracket get one where the camera rotates rather than the flash so that your light source doesnt change orientation. The one brendo suggested would be usesless with a lumiquest style bounce card because of the change in flash orientation.

What's the difference between
http://www.custombrack​ets.com …ackets/cb-junior-kit.html

and

http://www.custombrack​ets.com …rackets/cb-digital-s.html

I have enough for either, but am unclear on what exactly is diferent between the two/which I should buy.

Gonzogolf, which bracket would you recommend for me?

My equipment is in my signature!

I like this Bogen one.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Camera_Flash_Br​acket.html

Put a small softbox on it. If you have a L bracket for your camera then you can attach the bracket in such a way to move the flash 45deg. up and away from the camera. The setup will be heavy for sure but can be managed by having a monopod under the camera.

I don't flip cameras any more for event kind of shooting. Just crop vertical from horizontal.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Camera_Flip_Br​acket.html

This is the one that I have. There are other more expensive options that may be better. On the whole with bounce cards and other devices I have found I don't use it that much. If you are committed to a direct, albeit diffused flash, then this would work.

SunnyOctopus wrote in post #12025315
Could someone give me the basic rundown of how one might use a setup like this to shoot people portraits?

Do you turn the flash up all the way and use shutter speed to achieve proper exposure? Do you leave flash in ETTL, and experiment with shutter speed to get a good balance of ambient light and flash? Do something else?

http://www.alzodigital​.com …_bracket_umbrel​la_kit.htm

Also, do you any of you have an opinion on the Alzo Flash Bracket Umbrella? Is there a better journalistic-on-the-go type accessory?

Thanks for your time! Best wishes!

I think it's a pretty slick rig albeit, a little large if your doing an event. I wonder if they have an integrated vest support system like a Stedicam. I can see myself walking around a wedding with all that stuff on. I'd feel like Robophotog!