Flash question.

[tim11]

Recently at an indoors reception there was an old timer who shot with a flash bracket, trigger by the flash mounted on the hot shoe.
What I noticed was that the bracket flash fired about half a second after the hotshoe flash; so they apparently out of sync with each other. I was curious if this set up (out of sync) is necessary? If it is, can someone tell me why? I also noticed that by the time the bracket flash fired the subjects start to move.

[tim11]

Nobody knows or care?

[TheWengler]

I don't know why they'd be out of sync. 1/2 second seems pretty slow.

[Rooz]

just sounds out of sync to me. half a second seems to be too long for it to be a redeye reduction strategy.

[cdifoto]

Are you sure he wasn't just dragging the shutter? When you use slower shutter speeds it can appear as though the flash is out of sync when it's really not. This is especially true when shooting with 2nd curtain sync. The reason for this is most people confuse MIRROR SLAP with the shutter. You can't actually hear the shutter unless you hold the camera to your ear.

[tim11]

What is the benefit of dragging the shutter? My thought was this rear curtain sync. But isn't the shutter close at the 2nd flash? If that's correct then the guy might fail his purpose because at that 2nd flash his subjects started to turn and move away. Half of second is only my guess but it was long enough for people to drop their guard, blink and move; etc. And this repeated for the whole function.

[cdifoto]

Drag the shutter = bring in more ambient light.

I re-read your description of his rig and it's possible they weren't designed to be used together. Old doesn't always mean knowledgeable. That's one reason why I'm not impressed when someone says "I've been shooting for 35 years, son!" :D

[jcon]

Old doesn't always mean knowledgeable. That's one reason why I'm not impressed when someone says "I've been shooting for 35 years, son!" :D

One of the smartest and most accurate statements I have read online in a long time! Agree 100%

[tim11]

just sounds out of sync to me. half a second seems to be too long for it to be a redeye reduction strategy.

Is red eye reduction really necessary? He got an external flash and a larger flash on the bracket. Of all the thousands or so photos I shot with just an external flash, I only noticed a couple.

He is an old timer completely with the "Look son, I've been shooting for 35 years.. " attitude to boot; that's why I wouldn't bother asking him.

I would love to see how his photos turn out but I don't think the chance is too good.

[cdifoto]

I would love to see how his photos turn out but I don't think the chance is too good.
Yeah he's probably not too keen on websites or the internet in general.