Flash Technique Question

Last night I had a to attend a Gala with my fiancee. I noticed one of the photographers working the event had his flash off his Nikon and connected by a cable. I never got a chance to see him use it but I'm curious how he was implementing it.

Is that setup so he can hold the flash off to the side with one hand, and creating some depth in the image?
How effective is this technique??

R.

rickp1 wrote in post #12055819
Last night I had a to attend a Gala with my fiancee. I noticed one of the photographers working the event had his flash off his Nikon and connected by a cable. I never got a chance to see him use it but I'm curious how he was implementing it.

Is that setup so he can hold the flash off to the side with one hand, and creating some depth in the image?
How effective is this technique??

R.

Was there extra hardware? Was he using a flash bracket of some kind?

Didn't notice. All i picked up on was that he had his flash connected to the camera by a cable and holing the flash with his hand. The cable was short, that typical compressed cable, like a cell phone car charger cable.

I figured he was holding the flash off to an angle to achive better depth and not that typical "Flash" image.
R.

Held high above the lens, it reduces the flat lighting (not so flattering) somewhat, and reduces chance of redeye even at longer shooting distances, and avoids the distracting 'side shadow'.

Held high off to one side a few feet, it reduces the flat lighting (not so flattering) and gives better modelling of facial features, and reduces chance of redeye even at longer shooting distances, but creates the distracting 'side shadow'.

If you have an incandescent table lamp, try holding it in those positions while your spouse or kids serve as your subjects, to see what it does!

Also, if there are people standing between you and the subject, it throws the shadows cast by bystanders to be down and not so visible to the lens.

Yes, it's called an off-camera shoe cord. The canon OC-E3 sells for about $50. The generic ebay versions work fine too and only cost about $20.

IMHO, they're the first step that everyone should take when trying to improve their flash photography.

In addition to the great off-camera flash threads here, check out Syl Arena's "Speedliter's Handbook". And http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com

Looks like Wilt and Clarence have answered your question. I just wasn't sure whether you were asking if it was for the purpose of holding the flash in his hand or whether that's what he was doing.