Mounted Flash, Portrait Orientation

[Biomech]

I'm sure we all use a bounce card when shooting with mounted flash, but how do you deal with it when flipping the camera portrait ways around? As you can imagine, it tends to just wrap the light around the side which looks pretty horrific. So do you just pull the card out and use the ceiling if possible or somethign else? I have, in the past, taken the flash off and held it in position (wireless mode), but that obviously isn't ideal.

Thoughts?

[Rentham]

Flagging your flash with something as simple as a piece of cut foam and a rubberband solves the problem. That way the subject is never hit with direct flash, and you can position the flashhead to bounce where ever you like. As you position the flash you'll just rotate the flag to make sure it is between the source and the subject.

[Biomech]

There is that I guess, I usually just jam a business card in there ;P Thought there might be some magical other way than a band :P

[zona5101]

a bracket with a pivoting arm so the flash orientation remains the same....
but usually I do the black foamy thing like Mike mentions (if their are decent walls.)

I don't like bounce cards...every time I try it, I think it looks like crap. Same with omnibounces and Gary Fong Diffusers...I usually only use them when outside for fill light or directional light.

I usually fire against the wall or ceiling, as long as the color is neutral. Where possible, I like to use the wall, usually back and to the left/right of me slightly. If I have to use the ceiling, I typically bounce it off the ceiling behind me. If the subject isn't facing me, the general rule is to point the flash in the direction the person is facing.

This keeps the raccoon eyes from forming, and gives a nice directional light.

[Hill Country Hack]

Originally Posted by Rentham

Flagging your flash with something as simple as a piece of cut foam and a rubberband solves the problem. That way the subject is never hit with direct flash, and you can position the flashhead to bounce where ever you like. As you position the flash you'll just rotate the flag to make sure it is between the source and the subject.

I can't wrap my head around this, can you show an example?

[Biomech]

Like this, but stuck on the side (thus the top in portrait grip)

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by Hill Country Hack

I can't wrap my head around this, can you show an example?

http://neilvn.com/tangents/2009/11/2...-foamie-thing/

[zona5101]

and a video from the jedi master of the BFT...
http://neilvn.com/tangents/2011/03/0...-foamie-thing/

[NathanFranke]

Originally Posted by Biomech

Like this, but stuck on the side (thus the top in portrait grip)

This is exactly what I do in these situations. You'll only forget to move the card once--flash directly in your own eye from 1 inch is not so much fun as it is memorable.