Advantages of Flash Brackets for portraits?

I think I'm going to be headin out to check out a camera store here in town soon. I hope to come back with a few goodies. But, I'm wondering if a flash bracket should be on my list also. What advantages does a flash bracket offer? Also, are there any types I need to stay away from? or do they all function relatively the same?

Thanks

FlipsidE

Primary advantage...redeye reduction

The number one advantage of the flash bracket is to elevate the flash away from the lens plane to drastically reduce or eliminate redeye. Most also allow you to rotate the camera while keeping the flash in the same position.

The downside of course is weight, balance (top heavy) and adding difficulty to use other hand for focus/zoom/adjustments etc.

In my mind it's a necessary evil. I use as it truely does a wonderful job of eliminating redeye in your portraits.

My understanding is that once you get the flash off the axis of the lens, you eliminate red-eye. The main reason for red-eye is that the reflected light from the flash comes right back thru the lens which causes the red-eye. That is the reason you get red-eye with the builtin flashes, they are simply too close in alignment with the lens, thus, the red-eye.

Wow, we posted the same answer within 1 minute of eachother!

This is a little hard to explain, but I figured out how to support the flash bracket with my left shoulder, which allowed me to keep my left hand on the zoom ring. The rest of the support is by my right hand, and the right index finger is in the expected place.

Otherwise, I just mount it on a quick release on the top of my tripod.

---Bob Gross---

Are there any flash brackets I should stay away from? Also, how does the signal to fire get from the camera hotshoe to the bracket shoe?

FlipsidE

You would also need a canon off shoe cord 2 so you could get the signal from the camer to the flash.

A bracket is good for eliminating red eye, but having a 550ex mounted on top of the camera seperates the light source far enough from the lens to do that.

The real advantages of a bracket is you cam ove the flash of to one side, higher up etc. This will dramatically improve any flash portraits as the light will be falling on the vict... subject at a different angle and will not look so flat.

Flat lighting

Best way to move away from flat lighting is the addition of multiple flashes off camera to get that modeling effect. I agree that the 550EX does help "get the flash up" but I still experience red eye with that set up on occasion. Especially when shooting in low light conditions where subject's pupils are dialated such as a dark wedding reception hall. Using the bracket virtually eliminates the problem, 550EX by itself reduces it considerably but does not eliminate it. An example of a trouble spot would be the wedding party sitting at an elevated table. Depending of course on your level to the subjects (it's not always possible to use your step ladder which I do use quite often) you'll get redeye in these shots unless you really get that flash up or off to the side.

Many of my flash shots use an assistant holding a slave 550 flash with a stofen diffuser and me with a bracket held 550ex on camera (also fitted with a Stofen diffuser). (When I'm doing handheld candid flash photography.)

Robert, perhaps a picture of how you support the camera would be helpful for others as well, I know it would be for me as I'm considering replacing my bracket for the very reason that you appear to have come up with a work around.

Cheers,

Jim

I just ordered a Stroboframe Pro-T which allows you to grip the camera as you do usually so you do not need a hand on the bracket itself.

On a separate note:

Those of you using the Stofen Omni Bouce: Do you use it when there is no ceiling to bounce off of? If you do, what position is your flash head in? Do you tilt it at 45 degrees, 65, etc. I have seen PJs on tv outdoors using an omnibounce pointed up. Is this the correct way to use these tupper ware thingys?

Ovi

That Stroboframe Pro-T looks EXCELLENT! Thanks for the heads up on that one.

FlipsidE

Stofen Omni Bounce

I've had the best luck just straight on. If I have a ceiling to bounce off of that is white (otherwise you'll have color cast) I'll use it. Most often, straight on. Yes you can use at other angles but I've found I get more under exposed shots this way. The difference with just using the stofen straight on vs no stofen is immediately obvious and in my opinion quite a nice look for such a simple device.

Jim

While getting the flash higher is certainly nice, the real reason I use my bracket is to keep the flash above the camera, even when I rotate the camera 90 degrees. This eliminates those really ugly side shadows.

I hope to do a lot of portrait/studio type work. The ability to keep the keep the flash above the camera even in portrait angle sounds great...if not absolutely necessary!

FlipsidE

Probably. The very cheapest ones are all in one piece and have virtually no adjustments. The better ones allow several adjustments for the position of the camera body and the position of the flash unit. I had to study mine for quite a while to figure out how to take advantage of all of the bells and whistles.

---Bob Gross---

The Custome Brackets CB Junior has the bracket handle on the right side and it out of the way enough to hold the cameta normaly for hand held candids, In the studio we mount it to a tripod and use a remote shutter release.