All,
I photograph wood warblers (small dinky birds always operating in hyper-drive) in deep shade. High ISOs and fast shutter speeds with flash-as-main-light are usually the rule. Typically, I get one milli-second burst of 3 or 4 exposures as the small bird appears without leaves/branches etc. interfering. Logically, the first exposure is correct with the flash firing, but subsequent exposures are under exposed while the single unit is recharging.
I was wondering, do they make a device that would sequence individual flash heads so that two or more flashes would alternate firing as exposures are being made? Please understand, I don't want to fire two flashes at the same time, but alternate them.
Not aware of such device, all I could advice you is having the fastest recycle time possible !!!
I have been using the Canon unit that houses eight AA mostly for convenience since its light and decent performer ... the Quantum units are much faster.
Will be watching to see if anyone comes up with something !!!
A friend of mine got the extra battery pack (a Canon knock-off on E-Bay) and it shortens the recycle time. Just holds eight extra double AA batteries. But I am sure you have heard of it.
Dean the battery packs work very well. I've found that the more multiple slave flashes you use the more you can turn down the power and greatly reduce cycle time. I can go -3 on my Nikon flashes and that makes the recycle time pretty fast. If your shooting in one location reflectors help bounce the light and not let it be wasted in dark areas. I use light stands and a couple of slave flashes for some of my work. Even a well placed piece of plywood painted white to bounce sun light off of works. Another thing that will work is aluminum foil backed insulation board, its very lite to carry.If you shoot in one place the birds will get use to the reflectors pretty quick. For now I think the key is keeping your flash turned down to allow faster shooting. Good luck Rod
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