single flash

[SmartWombat]

I ran into a big problem a the Autisport show, the drivers were doing autograph signings at a desk which had a glass top.
How would you cope with that, given that it's a public event and the drivers are signing for the fans rather than having a photo call for the press?

Getting close works of course, so that the flash doesn't illuminate the desktop and you don't get weird reflections and shadows in the background.

I tried just one experiement with bounce flash off the wall behind, and extending the catchlight panel to give a little bit more diffuse light.
Did it work?

More important though, what would you do with only a single flash in this situation?

[Sebastian]

No, I don't think t worked very well. The shadows are distracting, and the second shot is downright underexposed.

80 bucks gets you the off-camera shoe cord. You hold the flash wherever you need it. Having a sto-fen on it also helps. Just hold the flash above the camera or to the side that you want, and orient the body whichever way works best.

[SmartWombat]

Flash cord means I'm going to run out of hands. I can just manage the 1D and 24-70 one handed, so perhaps some weights work to toughen up that right arm !

Sto-Fen diffuses the light, which is great for softening the shadows I agree.

But since the scattered light is going to come back off the glass tabletop, now from a wider angle than the flash's zoom, which already (unhelpfully, thanks Canon) zooms out when it goes off-body - how am I going to deal with the glass reflections?

I guess the only answer there is to get closer, with the camera and the flash.
A friend bought the sto-fen a few weeks ago, I'll try to borrow it and see how it helps.

Interesting there was about a 50-50 split of diffusers vs naked flash. Couple of guys working for LAT one Nikon, one Canon - no diffuser. Freelancer working for Kart (go-kart not the US KART) was using diffuser. No-one, not one photographer at the show, was using off-camera flash.

Since it's either a trade show, or a public show (depending on which day) it's hard to get in to get a shot and set up lighting with all the people about.
I've got to find something simple as a solution which will work reliably, is portable, and isn't restricting in the angles I shoot from.
I thought of a simple L-bracket, but that only puts the shadows lower and farther right (or left) which doesn't necessarily work with the wall so close behind - and it restricts me to shooting from one side or the other. As does holding the flash in the other hand I suppose.