Using A Flash Rotating Bracket To Reduce Shadows

Raise your hand if you know what the device on the left is.  At first, I admit, it looks a bit odd.  But if you end up shooting a lot of flash work in portrait orientation (holding the camera on its side) a flash rotating bracket can be one of the handiest tools to purchase.

A flash rotating bracket allows for remote mounting of a flash in either landscape or portrait orientation.  Its biggest advantage lies in the fact that while in portrait mode, the flash can remain centered over the lens, producing even lighting.

It requires a remote flash cable, a cable that mounts to your normal flash hotshoe on a DSLR and then connects to the flash.  The bracket then screws into the tripod mount on the bottom of your camera.  This configuration enables the flash to be moved slightly forward and higher than the standard mount as pictured below.

The bracket is hinged on the right (left in the photo) side to allow the flash to rotate when the camera is maneuvered into portrait mode as in the next picture.

The flash is now, more or less, centered over the lens.  This will create a more even shadow behind the subject as compared to the side, if no bracket was used.  Most brackets, like this Pro-T by Stroboframe, have fine tune adjustments that can be made to better align the flash if desired.

In practice the results will look something like the self portraits below.  The first image is shot with the flash attached to the camera hotshoe and turned 90 degrees for a portrait orientation.  Notice the shadow that falls far to the right.  In all fairness, I am only three feet (1m) from the camera and about two feet (.6m) from the wall behind me.  This tends to make the shadow more pronounced.

When the rotating flash bracket is employed the shadow now fall directly behind me and a bit lower.  Again, the shadow can be further reduced by have the subject further from the wall.  The result is a less harsh shadow both behind and in facial features.

In practice the brackets are great for shooting at events where a flash is regularly employed.  But they also add bulk and a different balance to a camera.  Skillfully (nearly!) removed from the first photo of the camera and bracket is the battery I had to place under the lens to stop the entire setup from falling over!  Also while gripping the camera in portrait orientation with a battery grip installed, your hand will be forced to also grip part of the bracket, causing fatigue from an unfamiliar position after about an hour.

Those negatives aside, a flash rotating bracket is a great way to easily even out harsh shadows and gain a large advantage in taking handheld portraits on the move!