Off-camera flash or bracket mounted flash?

[Uncle Frank]

I had a busy Saturday. My first session was at the lake with Jeannie and Mike, my September bride and groom. I used an off camera flash on a lightstand, fired through a 32 inch umbrella, for all of their shots.









I think you can tell that we had a good time. I assigned Mike Sherpa duties, and drafted Jeannie to sort out the keepers at the end of the session. These kids were great models and fun to work with.

Just a few hours later, I switched from portrait artist to event photographer, shooting a 50th anniversary party my neighbor hosted for her parents. The first shots were posed, so I drafted a human light stand and shot them with off camera flash through the 32" umbrella.

The honorees


their children


and their grandkids.


But once the party started, I found it impractical to take tableshots and candids with off-camera flash.... either with a human lightstand or even holding the flash in my left hand. So I reverted to the CB Junior bracket and, since we were outdoors, a Lumiquest softbox attachment for the sb800. The rig makes me look like a spaceman...



... but it delivers decent lighting. Note that I no longer need/use a sync cord since I bought an su800 infrared Commander.







The bracket mounted results aren't as striking as those from off-camera flash, but the bracket is the more practical solution for event work. I think I've found my crossover point.

[kev]

great shots Frank.