Why a flash bracket ?What advantage ?

[dvdowns]

I am reading up on wedding photography and it mentions that a flash bracket gives an advantge when it comes to shadows but doesn't mention why .
Talk to me ......

[adm]

I'm no flash expert, but I'd imagine it's to do with getting the flash unit up much higher than the camera to soften the light hitting the subject (and you won't get red eye either).

You could try experimenting by holding the flash off camera with one hand while taking pictures with the other (if you've got a remote/wireless flash) and see if you notice any difference?

[photosbymorgan2]

The light being up higher will keep your subjects from getting red eye and force the shadows down instead of just behind them.

[Kevin Barrett]

Originally Posted by dvdowns

I am reading up on wedding photography and it mentions that a flash bracket gives an advantge when it comes to shadows but doesn't mention why .
Talk to me ......

A higher lightsource produces a shorter shadow.

[dvdowns]

Point taken , thank you . Next Saturday 26/11/05 will be the wedding . Fortunately it will be outside in the main street of a historical village so I wil be using mainly fill-flash and after experimenting with my D70 I see that the camera is pretty adept at this . Eventually I will save up for a SB800 flash and in the meantime I will keep my eyes open for a flash bracket to eliminate the horrible red-eye syndrome which " red-eye reduction " mode on most cameras doesn't seem to do much about ....

[Kevin Barrett]

Originally Posted by dvdowns

Point taken , thank you . Next Saturday 26/11/05 will be the wedding . Fortunately it will be outside in the main street of a historical village so I wil be using mainly fill-flash and after experimenting with my D70 I see that the camera is pretty adept at this . Eventually I will save up for a SB800 flash and in the meantime I will keep my eyes open for a flash bracket to eliminate the horrible red-eye syndrome which " red-eye reduction " mode on most cameras doesn't seem to do much about ....

I would suggest purchasing a Stroboframe ($50USD), Omnibounce diffuser ($20USD), off camera flash adapter ($50USD) before the wedding.

[Wilt]

>>I would suggest purchasing a Stroboframe ($50USD), <<

Caution about the Stroboframe purchase...I have read a number of disappointed posts on forums about the Stroboframe not keeping a flash unit centered on the lens axis, but putting the flash somewhat to the side of the lens...making the shadow visible, that you are trying to avoid!

[dvdowns]

So is the stroboframe a bracket for holding the flash ? The diffuser a " soft focus" for the flash and the adapter just for joining the flash to the socket on top of the camera ? I have an old Nissin 360TW pivot- swivel flash which has 3 power settings and auto mode ....

[Kevin Barrett]

Originally Posted by Wilt

>>I would suggest purchasing a Stroboframe ($50USD), <<

Caution about the Stroboframe purchase...I have read a number of disappointed posts on forums about the Stroboframe not keeping a flash unit centered on the lens axis, but putting the flash somewhat to the side of the lens...making the shadow visible, that you are trying to avoid!

I haven't had a problem with mine.

[Kevin Barrett]

Originally Posted by dvdowns

So is the stroboframe a bracket for holding the flash ? The diffuser a " soft focus" for the flash and the adapter just for joining the flash to the socket on top of the camera ? I have an old Nissin 360TW pivot- swivel flash which has 3 power settings and auto mode ....

Yes, Yes and Yes

[CI Photography]

I like the Stroboframe StroboFlip VH2000 better than anything I've tried so far. You want one that works like this, if you don't buy this one. Here is a link.


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Joe

[dvdowns]

Thanks , thanks and thanks .

[dvdowns]

Thanks for the link , I have printed the picture out and will now go and do battle with the camera shop in Tauranga [ New Zealand Harbour city ] , I won't take my 12" hunting knife with this time because they know me well enough by now .

[dc2]

I have a stroboframe and have no probs with it but I am not impressed by the omibounce that just fits snugly to the flash, I think it produces to harsh a light

[dvdowns]

Just got back from town , the camera shop I normally deal with is closed for a week for modifications . I got hold of a second hand bracket , just an "L" shape with " Japan " written underneath and a handle on the side which is adjustable as well .[ $30 second hand which I why I don't normally deal with them] .
I will soon order a SB600 flash . BUT ; does the flash come with a cord to trigger it from the hotshoe ? I can trugger it from the built in flash but what if I don't want the built in flash to go off ?

[Kevin Barrett]

Originally Posted by dc2

I have a stroboframe and have no probs with it but I am not impressed by the omibounce that just fits snugly to the flash, I think it produces to harsh a light

Even with the strobe angled at a 45 degree angle?

Originally Posted by dvdowns

Just got back from town , the camera shop I normally deal with is closed for a week for modifications . I got hold of a second hand bracket , just an "L" shape with " Japan " written underneath and a handle on the side which is adjustable as well .[ $30 second hand which I why I don't normally deal with them] .
I will soon order a SB600 flash . BUT ; does the flash come with a cord to trigger it from the hotshoe ? I can trugger it from the built in flash but what if I don't want the built in flash to go off ?

What you'll want is an off camera shoe cord that re-distributes your camera's hotshoe to the top of the bracket.

[dvdowns]

I did a search on the SB600 and D70and in the menu you can set the flash at " command" mode on the built in speedlight . At that setting I don't even pick up flash on the picture so obviously it is just enough to trigger the remote SB600 for main flash .....

[dc2]

Originally Posted by Kevin Barrett

Even with the strobe angled at a 45 degree angle?
What you'll want is an off camera shoe cord that re-distributes your camera's hotshoe to the top of the bracket.

The 45 degree angle helps but I prefer my lastolite light modifier it attach's* to the flash with velcro strips ,
its like a mini soft box ,though I must admit I'm still getting used to it as I have only had it a week or so

[Wilt]

>>Just got back from town , the camera shop I normally deal with is closed for a week for modifications . I got hold of a second hand bracket , just an "L" shape with " Japan " written underneath and a handle on the side which is adjustable as well .[ <<

Many professional wedding jobs under my belt, so I speak from lots of experience. The point of a bracket is not only to get it HIGHER (for redye elimination), but also to get it CENTERED OVER the lens (for less obvious shadows). The resulting shadow is cast 'back behind' the subject and not visible to the lens. Any lateral offset from the lens axis to the flash axis will result in VISIBLE SHADOW. And it is key that the light stays centered above the lens even when you turn the camera on its side to take a photo in the other orientation (portrait vs. landscape orientation), and MANY brackets FAIL to do that! Your bracket description would make it seem to fail to keep the flash centered over the lens for BOTH orientations!

Put a small softbox over the light to increase the apparent size of the light source, thereby SOFTENING the shadows (clouds are a big light source compared to the tiny light source of the direct sun, which is why shadows soften so much when the sun is hidden by clouds).

[dvdowns]

I think a soft box is a good idea . I have bought the SB600 now so can operate the flash wireless if needed . I also bought a cable with all the pins for TTL off-camera flash . The L-shaped bracket obviously does not keep the flash centered in normal position , but for sideweways shots it can be adjusted to sit right above the subject . Do you have reference to a bracket that can do both ?