educate me... flash brackets.

at a recent club shoot, i saw a few photographers with a stroboframe bracket, or something along those lines.

i know placing the flash above the axis of the lens provides better light reducing shadows. it also helps when shooting in the portrait orientation also.

my question is, should the flash still be bounced? or can it be shot straight on?

if the main purpose of the bracket is to bounce, what difference would it make if it is only a few more inches off the camera?

thanks!

Well, I'm certainly no expert, but I would say:

1. A bracket doesn't improve the light per se. But because the flash sets up higher, shadows will tend to be lower than the subject and depending on the exact geometry may be enough lower to be hidden by the subject(s). Also, the additional height above the camera may eliminate red eye.

2. I don't think the use of a bracket changes the decision making process concerning bounced flash. For instance, if ceilings are very high or you are outside, bouncing the flash isn't really an option.

With a good bracket that keeps the flash over the axis of the lens, direct light is entirely possible with good results because the shadow falls directly behind and below the subject. Putting a small softbox further helps to take the edge off any shadows which might be visible.

With or without a good bracket that keeps the flash over the axis of the lens, indirect light achieves good results simply because the use of the ceiling makes a huge bounce surface so that shadows are generally eliminated (other than the shadows that result from no light from the overhead, such as under the chin)

Using a camera rotating bracket simplifies bounced flash for me. Since the flash doesn't move I can set it to bounce in a given area and not have to change until my environment changes and it works in portrait or landscape mode. A flash attached to the camera or on a flash rotating bracket has to be re-adjusted for bounce when going between portrait and landscape.

Titus213 wrote in post #5069305
. A flash attached to the camera or on a flash rotating bracket has to be re-adjusted for bounce when going between portrait and landscape.

Not a universal truth...a well designed bracket eliminates the need to readjust the head of the flash to accomodate the change in camera orientation. Custom Bracket and Newton both avoid the need for flash head repositioning.

Wilt wrote in post #5069808
Not a universal truth...a well designed bracket eliminates the need to readjust the head of the flash to accomodate the change in camera orientation. Custom Bracket and Newton both avoid the need for flash head repositioning.

I think you're talking about the camera rotating brackets, Wilt, but Dave was talking about the flash rotating brackets. Although, I do agree that not all flash rotating brackets require the head to be repositioned when in the bounce position.

I am looking to purchase a bracket very soon. Does anyone have any recommendations? I've done some shopping and am a bit overwhelmed by the many options.

This is a complex subject IMO. The camera rotation brackets seem to be the best. I just got a Strobframe Pro-RL that seems OK.

I've got this one and love it! Custom Pro-M

JA

PacAce wrote in post #5069908
I think you're talking about the camera rotating brackets, Wilt, but Dave was talking about the flash rotating brackets. Although, I do agree that not all flash rotating brackets require the head to be repositioned when in the bounce position.

No Leo, all Newton Brackets keep the flash ceiling orientation in the proper position after either the Flash or the Camera (depending upon model) is rotated. I use their flash rotator from about almost 20 years ago, and have never had to fidget with flash head adjustment.

I've only been using a Newton - the camera rotator model - for about two years now, with the recommendation of Wilt and others on this forum. It's some of the best "camera money" I've ever spent. Here are some shots of my rig:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=338933

Eryk,

I have a cheaper stroboframe that works fine for me: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ick_Flip_350_Br​acket.html

You'll find when you dig deeper into the "flash bracket world" there's the ongoing arguement of whether to get a bracket that rotates the camera or one that just rotates the flash.

Both can be quite effective and may even enjoy equal popularity. In skilled hands they are wonderful devices.

I opted for the "camera rotator" due to my own personal shooting style, and the fact that I did not want to be costantly torquing the plastic shoe area on my 580ex. That tends to be the weak link on a lot of strobes, so I rather it remain in the upright position; hence I prefer to rotate the camera.

JustinL wrote in post #5072615
......You'll find when you dig deeper into the "flash bracket world" there's the ongoing arguement of whether to get a bracket that rotates the camera or one that just rotates the flash.

Here is my plan:
Make a "U" bracket consisting of two "L" brackets shown in this thread (https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=85421) such that the metal bars extend to the right side and the top side of the camera. Use an off camera cord to connect the camera to the flash mounted on a spring clamp as in this thread (https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=460495). When you change orientation, just switch the clamp from one bar to the other bar such that it is over the lens. Will it work?

Wilt wrote in post #5072487
No Leo, all Newton Brackets keep the flash ceiling orientation in the proper position after either the Flash or the Camera (depending upon model) is rotated. I use their flash rotator from about almost 20 years ago, and have never had to fidget with flash head adjustment.

Sorry, Wilt. I must have missed the Newton brackets in their web site which are flash rotators. I did see a bracket which was categorized as a flash rotator but it didn't look like it was rotating the flash but more like it was rotating the camera instead. But, at any rate, I still did agree with you that not all flash rotating brackets require the repositioning of the flash head.