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Custom Bracket vs. Stroboframe flash bracket
- Thread starter bbanke
- Start date
brackets don't make ANY light. Your flash does. And their main purpose is to allow almost any position relative to the camera to use the best avalable surface to bounce off. In this porticular shot I would have to hold my camera upside down pressing the button with my left pinky to be able to bounce light from that fireplace mantel in the corner of the room... if I did not have my Custom bracket. And, my name is NOT Harry Houdini, you know.
Bimthecat
Senior Member
I think canon makes a 1 meter coiled cord (about $50)
Bimthecat
Senior Member
(good image, nice spirit)
(in my opinion)
Too much bounce and not quite enough frontal light...
the clue is in the eyes...not enough separation between brown of the eye and the black of the pupil.
With an off-camera cord, and a bounce device (say: the Joe Demb-er-ator)
and the light at half-an-arm length to the left, the light rolls over her face:
CREATING the 3D look....with the light over the camera it is a flat(er) result.
...and the brown and black (of the eye) separate.
Without shadows, photography does not work.
See below: wide-angle on camera, flash
ff camera, set to 85mm coverage.
shoot light under hat-brim.
On-camera flash would have created a hat-brim shadow-on-fore-head.
Without that shadow, as in the pic, you suspend disbelief and you are drawn in
and you dont believe it's flash lit...
I am taking a light-painted photo to computer EVEN before Phpotoshop.
An unfair illegal advantage !
bimthecat
(in my opinion)
Too much bounce and not quite enough frontal light...
the clue is in the eyes...not enough separation between brown of the eye and the black of the pupil.
With an off-camera cord, and a bounce device (say: the Joe Demb-er-ator)
and the light at half-an-arm length to the left, the light rolls over her face:
CREATING the 3D look....with the light over the camera it is a flat(er) result.
...and the brown and black (of the eye) separate.
Without shadows, photography does not work.
See below: wide-angle on camera, flash
ff camera, set to 85mm coverage. shoot light under hat-brim.
On-camera flash would have created a hat-brim shadow-on-fore-head.
Without that shadow, as in the pic, you suspend disbelief and you are drawn in
and you dont believe it's flash lit...
I am taking a light-painted photo to computer EVEN before Phpotoshop.
An unfair illegal advantage !
bimthecat
How do you hold the flash? Use a light stand? Or just streatch the cord and hold camera in one hand - flash attached to cord in the other. Seems that would be difficult - but I also think untieing your flash from anywhere near the body seems to be more creative.
So how'd you do it??
--
Collector of Beautiful Things
So how'd you do it??
--
Collector of Beautiful Things
It is impossible to have as much control of light in a casual setting using a flash as in a studio. When you use bounced light you have to find a spot that:
1) as close to white as possible;
2) allows you to get the direction of light hitting the model at the angle you want to;
3) have a size/distance from the model ratio that produces the light of desired softness.
In the sample I posted I used a large white surface just next to the girl. The light is very soft - with all the consequences, both positive and negative, like smoother shadow transition and dimmer catchlights in the eye. You will get the same advantages and problems in a studio using a large soft box. If I wanted harder light I would have to move the camera closer to the reflective surface and the model farther from that surface... I agree with you, that off-camera flash would be even better for this than a flash on a bracket, better yet would be to have two off-camera flashes mounted on tripods... But then, I would have missed the casual spirit. Plus, if you start making things that complicated, why not just use few softboxes of different size, reflectors, grids, flags, gobos.... You will get even more control, but it would be not a casual setting anymore but a studio. So I think I'll stick with my bracket:
Yes, the CB Jr allows shutter to be on top during flip
Yes, at least the one I tried did that.
Cheers,
Scott
--
'The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.' -Marcel Proust
And the lack of a bracket places a giant shadow over the left shoulder of that beautiful bride . . .
--
'The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.' -Marcel Proust
1) the picture was taken with EX550 mounted on Custon bracket's bracket;
2) what "shadow" are you talking about?
3) I can't help noticing... but is there a connection between Scottydog
and Bimthecat? Could it be... Are the messages posted by the Catdog?!?
Bimthecat
Senior Member
Yes...
Camera in right hand....flash in left hand
Camera in right hand....flash in left hand
Tom Batinich
Senior Member
Sometimes you don't have a choice. If you have the time to set up and you will not be moving around or are in a crowded event you can have all of the off camera options you want. Heck when there is time I use 2 off camera lights on stands and meter manually.
You have to go with what works best for the moment. If you want to push the point about being lazy I guess one could say that if you don't bring a portable studio setup you are being lazy.
A bracket is a tool that fits a purpose, that's all.
You have to go with what works best for the moment. If you want to push the point about being lazy I guess one could say that if you don't bring a portable studio setup you are being lazy.
A bracket is a tool that fits a purpose, that's all.
Sorry, I'm not refering to any photos posted here. Rather, my comment is directed to those who believe brackets make "flat light." If you shoot a wedding in a tall, dark room and use fill flash without a backet, you may not be happy with the results. Nor will your client.
;> )
--
'The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.' -Marcel Proust
Bimthecat
Senior Member
Camera in my right hand...flash in my left...(with Joe Demb card thingie)
run and gun...very quick
Yes, a bracket is just a tool albeit a bad one.
Why do point-and-shoot cameras take horrid flat flash pix ?
The flash is on-axis. Flat flat flat.
without shadow all is lost.
bimthecat
Look at this: NOT FLAT ...off camera cord:
run and gun...very quick
Yes, a bracket is just a tool albeit a bad one.
Why do point-and-shoot cameras take horrid flat flash pix ?
The flash is on-axis. Flat flat flat.
without shadow all is lost.
bimthecat
Look at this: NOT FLAT ...off camera cord:
Tom Batinich
Senior Member
I guess I am just not strong enough to hold my 1D bodies and do that. That is a old technique, but most of the time at Wedding and other event I need a free hand and the ability to let the camera hang around my neck while a change lenses, cards or straighten out a dress.
Plus I usually drag the shutter indoors and since I do usually hand hold I don't have the confidence to hold a camera with one hand steadily. It's also easier to make setting changes and zoom in and out when both hand are free. For instance with the Bride & Groom having their first dance I like to be able to zoom in close or back out again quickly.
Although you could probably do the same even with a flash in your other hand.
To each their own I suppose.
Plus I usually drag the shutter indoors and since I do usually hand hold I don't have the confidence to hold a camera with one hand steadily. It's also easier to make setting changes and zoom in and out when both hand are free. For instance with the Bride & Groom having their first dance I like to be able to zoom in close or back out again quickly.
Although you could probably do the same even with a flash in your other hand.
To each their own I suppose.
if you are thinking quickflip try this custum brackets
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=371039&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
beam me up scotty
im giving it all shes got captain
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=371039&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
--
beam me up scotty
im giving it all shes got captain
A few more questions - while I'm now leaning toward using my limited space with an extra 580 EX and 420EX as slave and compact light stand. But what is a "Joe Demb" card thingie?? What kind of off camera cord do you use??
Thanks for the time and advice!
Collector of Beautiful Things
Thanks for the time and advice!
--Camera in my right hand...flash in my left...(with Joe Demb card
thingie)
run and gun...very quick
Yes, a bracket is just a tool albeit a bad one.
Why do point-and-shoot cameras take horrid flat flash pix ?
The flash is on-axis. Flat flat flat.
without shadow all is lost.
bimthecat
Look at this: NOT FLAT ...off camera cord:
Collector of Beautiful Things
Bimthecat
Senior Member
http://www.joedembphotography.com/flipit/
Canon's off-camera flash cord is about $ 50
It's says it's only 2 feet. 3 feet would be ideal.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=654&A=details&Q=&sku=12972&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Canon's off-camera flash cord is about $ 50
It's says it's only 2 feet. 3 feet would be ideal.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=654&A=details&Q=&sku=12972&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Wayne Larmon
Forum Pro
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=654&A=details&Q=&sku=12972&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
So also buy a spare off-camera flash cord. Connect the spare to your other cord so you end up with a single 4 foot cord.
Or put a 550EX/580EX on the camera set as "Master" and crank the ratio so the on-camera flash is fill. Set a 420EX/430EX as slave and ratioed to be the key light. Hand hold the slave, position as desired.
Wayne
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