Most non-professional photographers refrain from using camera brackets. Sadly, this often shows up in their work. However, many non-pros do not really care about the slight flaws in their images caused by on-camera flash. A camera bracket is an L-shaped metal piece that attaches to the camera's tripod socket underneath and as an accessory or hot shoe on the top of the long side of the "L." The bracket usually also has a formed wooden or plastic grip that photographers hold onto to steady their shots.
Bracket Advantages
A camera bracket takes your electronic flash unit off the top of your camera and places it to the left or right side of the camera and may raise it slightly higher. This prevents the flash from pointing directly into the eyes or faces of your subjects. Take a close-up photograph of a group of people in a darkened room to see the effect of on-camera flash: red eye and washed out faces. The flash bouncing off the dilated eyes of the subjects causes the red eye and too much direct light washes out the faces, making them appear too white or featureless. Move the flash to the bracket so the light does not hit them straight on, but rather from a slight angle. This decreases the possibility of red eye and softens the flash on the faces to prevent washout. A bracket makes it easier to hold and carry the camera. The bracket also makes it easier to hold the camera with both hands, thus steadying it. This helps decrease blurriness in low-light situations.
Bracket Disadvantages
One of the reasons only pros use brackets is that they can be clumsy and heavy to carry. If you normally pack your single-lens reflex film or digital camera in its body in your suitcase for trips, you will find it takes up a lot more room. You will need a full camera gadget bag if you use the bracket all the time. The appearance of your camera when attached to a bracket is bigger, meaning it may be more daunting to subjects you want to photograph. People tend to get self-conscious when there is a camera around, especially when it points at them. You will find it more difficult to snap off quick candid images of people at, say, a wedding reception, if you have the bracket attached.
On-Camera Flash
For most people who are not photography pros, attaching an electronic flash unit to the hot shoe on the top of the SLR viewfinder works fine. It adds a little weight to the camera, but not as much as a bracket. If you use an electronic flash that has a pivoting flash head, you can bounce the flash off the ceiling or walls to soften or decrease the light reaching your subjects. Some flash units also provide for the use of filters, such as diffusers, that essentially nullify the advantages of the bracket.
Your Needs
Deciding to use a bracket with your SLR or DSLR really comes down to your own needs. If you shoot a lot of flash photography, the bracket can give you a few advantages over using on-camera flash units. If you tend to shoot fast-paced activity such as basketball games or concerts where the light is not great, you will gain the advantage of being able to steady the camera more with both hands. If you do not shoot a lot of intense flash photography, you probably do not need the bracket.
Tags: camera bracket, electronic flash, both hands, easier hold, electronic flash unit, flash photography