Will ETTL matter in bouncing

If you are bouncing using a bracket is superfluous. Aim the flash toward a wall/ceiling junction and let ETTL find the exposure.

I have probably 5 brackets I've purchased over the years, they all are collecting dust. I use an ETTL flash bounced for probably 98% of my shots during a wedding. The only time the flash is aimed at the subject is outside for fill.

With a little practice and paying attention to details you will learn that ETTL works great, providing you understand its not a magic bullet. i.e. you still have to think.

I use a foamie thing (Neil vN made it famous as the "black foamie thing") Its main purpose is to keep light off of people in front of the camera so that the bounce light is dominate.

dmward wrote in post #15818162
If you are bouncing using a bracket is superfluous. Aim the flash toward a wall/ceiling junction and let ETTL find the exposure.

I have probably 5 brackets I've purchased over the years, they all are collecting dust. I use an ETTL flash bounced for probably 98% of my shots during a wedding. The only time the flash is aimed at the subject is outside for fill.

With a little practice and paying attention to details you will learn that ETTL works great, providing you understand its not a magic bullet. i.e. you still have to think.

I use a foamie thing (Neil vN made it famous as the "black foamie thing") Its main purpose is to keep light off of people in front of the camera so that the bounce light is dominate.

So you're just shooting on-camera ETTL with a black foamie?

I actually have one of those, it's a can coolie i bought from walmart($1).

it's this one? will this work?

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Black foamy thing is a gobo that keeps the light from spilling forward, it is not a snoot as it lets light spill everywhere else for bouncing.

vinmunoz wrote in post #15818197
So you're just shooting on-camera ETTL with a black foamie?

I actually have one of those, it's a can coolie i bought from walmart($1).

it's this one? will this work?

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That thing will work. Just cut away on side back to within about 1 inch to leave a band that will hold it on the flash head.
Should be easy to twist around that way.

The idea is to let some light to go out in an angle? to let some light to stream from both sides too?

The reason I like the Pro Media Flash bracket is because I can use a flash on the bracket to bounce on a phottix odin trigger and use the transmitter in the hotshoe so I can also trigger an off camera flash as well. It works great both inside and outside. Outside the flash on bracket is for fill.

vinmunoz wrote in post #15817146
Have you used the top one? so many complains about it being unstable and no locking mechanism on the camera. Also won't work with a 5D with a grip.

what can you say about this?

I have used the top one. Its a cheap bracket, does what it sets out to do. I never had an issue with being unstable, and locking wasnt a concern for me. To be honest, I dont use it that often so its does what I need for the amount of use it gets. If I were doing a lot more weddings and decided I needed a bracket I would buy better. But the alternatives that get better reviews start at $200 and go up, so thats a consideration. I dont know that you really need a grip with a bracketed flash to begin with its just extra weight for an already heavy rig.

vinmunoz wrote in post #15819459
The idea is to let some light to go out in an angle? to let some light to stream from both sides too?

As mentioned, the primary purpose of the foamie thing is to keep light from spilling onto the subject directly. Also, to keep the light when turned to bounce off a wall to side or behind photographer from flashing right into someone's eyes. Thus, foamie thing is positioned under flash head and at least the side toward the subject. Then tilt the head up a bit toward ceiling/wall joint. I also tend to have the head manually zoomed toward telephoto, especially if the wall/ceiling is farther away.

Example

Black foamie thing

who the hell still uses a bracket lol

bespoke wrote in post #15821452
who the hell still uses a bracket lol

What do you do when you're shooting an event outdoors with nothing to bounce off, want to shoot portrait orientation, and don't want nasty side shadows? It seems like a bracket would come in handy there.

mike_d wrote in post #15822364
What do you do when you're shooting an event outdoors with nothing to bounce off, want to shoot portrait orientation, and don't want nasty side shadows? It seems like a bracket would come in handy there.

Possibly, but I've not used any of the 4 or 5 brackets I have in years, and haven't notice shadow problems.

thanks for all your input dmward.

vinmunoz wrote in post #15816847
Guys I have this question in mind... Can ETTL gives you accurate flash power/reading when bouncing off the wall or ceiling?

i felt this type of scenario is tricky for the ETTL flash.

Well I'm going to probably suffer with this one but I don't ever find ETTL accurate. I always have to adjust the FEC based on the conditions. ETTL works when bouncing and I just have adjust the FEC more to get the exposure, so for me all in all there is no difference as I have to work it either way.

somebody mentioned that already that you have to at least FEC 1/3-2/3 depending on how far the ceiling or wall.