This "L" bracket is made of molded plastic, features a padded camera platform with an adjustable 1/4"-20 camera screw, a flash shoe on top, and includes a hand strap.
Flash brackets are designed to increase the distance between the flash and the lens in order to minimize the occurrence of redeye and flash-shadows behind the subject.
By using an "L" shaped bracket the flash is slightly off-center, which also adds a little more dimension to the face in portrait photography.