Remote flash with extender

I owned a better beamer flash extender a few years back, and lost the lens, anyway now that I have my 500mm I am considering picking one up, and have this idea to mount my 580EX on a seperate tripod with a better beamer, and pick up a ST-E2 to set it off remotely.

I would use it coupled with the 500mm for prefocused setups such as hummingbirds, and think having the fill flash hit at an off angle from the camera could create a nice look, with less of a "this picture has flash" look to it. Anyone here tried a similar setup with any success or lack thereof?

It's the way to go for more than just hummingbirds - I've been setting up like this since Feb 2010 for all of my bird shots.

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Thanks for the advice, and lovely shots. Very good points on the 30' limit and trouble with IR. What brand/model radio trigger system do you use? I am one step above absolutely igornant when it comes to flash photography and fully admit it.

I'm using Pocket Wizard Flex transceivers but there are lots of alternatives out there. I see good things about Phottix, Radio Poppers, Pixel King - there are plenty of manual flash options and more brands are offering ETTL devices all the time.

If you want to learn about this type of lighting spend some time on the Strobist blog and at the Strobist group on Flickr. It's going to be mostly models, weddings, and products but the concepts cross over.

Most people are not using this type of lighting for wildlife outside of hummingbird set-ups and the ones who are do not talk about it much. They want you to spend money on their workshops instead.

So these are what I would need?:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …nsceiver_Radio_​Slave.html
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …io_Slave_Transm​itter.html

Does the slave mount directly to a tripod thread?

I have a set of three of the Flex TT5 transceivers (one per flash and one to transmit from the camera) and an AC3 Zone Controller. (Let's you control three sets of flashes at different outputs)

The mini TT1 is nice and cheaper but it takes a special CR-2450 lithium battery while the TT5 uses two AA batteries - for me the TT5 is more convenient because of this.

The TT5 has a standard 1/4"-20 socket for connection to your light stand. I have an older 550EX that I use for lighting the background or providing rim light on the bird. That goes on a 366B light stand by way of a Giottos mini ball head.

For the main light I use a 580EX II on another 366B with an umbrella swivel adapter and a collapsible umbrella.

If you end up using an umbrella or any kind of light modifier that can catch wind make sure you put about 20 pounds of weight on the base of your stand or stake down the legs really well - shouldn't tempt fate when you attach your flash and trigger to a kite.

Those are some real beauties Kevin !

Yeah, Kevin....your shots blow me away (as usual).

Thanks Kevin, I will have to do my homework on it before my next trip.

Thanks guys, it's going on 17 years for me this spring - I may have learned a thing or two along the way.

Thank God it's digital and not film though, I'd need a roll off for what I weed out.