Using Pocket Wizards with flash on camera

[Skipper]

I love firing my off camera flashes with a Pocket Wizard on the camera's hotshoe and also on the flashes.

But now I am trying to figure out how to fire a flash that is serving as a background light on the floor inside a small softbox while another flash (SB900) is on the camera. In this set-up, the flash on the camera is the main light as it is pointed backwards and bouncing off a white wall. And the other SB900 is, as I said, on the floor up front lighting background. I'm doing head shots.

Now I can't put PW on the camera. I could get the two flashes to talk to each other -- one as master; one as slave. But that never works for me and even when it does it's always finicky and intermittent. The two have to 'see' each other and that creates problems.

So... how to have flash on camera and still fire the second flash? I guess I could have on-camera flash on a light stand next to me with PW on camera.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[BobF]

I thought Nikon flashes had a radio slave capability as well as optical.

[Skipper]

Ooooh good question BobF. I'll check it out.

[Skipper]

Good thought BobF but no, they do not. So I'm told by Nikon people.

[OJS]

At times when I need that BG flash, I'll use one of the older Vivitars plugged into a optical? (flash slave) and it works fine.

[mrchile]

Nope, Nikon flashes and the SU800 commander all operate on IR. You need line of sight.

Skipper, what if you used your PW and mounted one of your 900's on a bracket attached to the camera?
That way you'd be able to move around without tripping over another light stand, and the flash could move with you if you work around the subject.

[Skipper]

Thank you Mr. C. That's a good idea. I should try that. I have an old bracket I could dust off. I think it would fit if I took the tripod fixture off the camera.

[Sharna]

Skipper, You're saying that you are trying to light this with two pocket wizards? Why wouldn't the pocket wizards talk to each other? OR do you only have one pocket wizard? I use FlexTT5's to fire my off camera lights. I currently own 3 thanks to my loving husband who spoils me when he can.

There are other, less expensive, wireless triggers that I heard were very good and very reliable
http://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-Wireless-Trigger-Shutter-Transceiver/dp/B004YW79F4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328887799&sr=1-1

I hope this is what you're talking about.

[Skipper]

Thanks Sharna. Thanks for information.

Yes, I am trying to light with two PW. They do talk to each other fine. But there is only room on my camera's hotshoe for one device and I want a flash on there to bounce off the back wall. So where does the other PW go? Need PW to fire background light PW. Mr. C's suggestion might work. It puts the flash more or less on my camera but still lets it be fired by on-camera PW that also fires background light PW.

[Sharna]

The flex TT5's have a hot shoe on them for your flash to go. That's all I use to trigger my flashes.

Yeah, Johns pretty knowledgeable huh? lol

[BobF]

Hmmm, OK.

Well then the other thing, and maybe this has already been discussed, would be to put the one flash on a tripod beside the camera with the PW in the shoe.

[Skipper]

Thanks Bob. I did just that today, flash on light stand next to me with PW on hotshoe. Worked fine. But I'd still rather have it on camera, just cause I have more control that way. So I have to dig out bracket as Mr. C. suggests and see if that will work.

[BobF]

Why do you have more control if the flash is on the camera?

[Skipper]

Because when I move around it moves around with me. (I hate tripods). And I can reach up and adjust the swivel head much faster if it's on camera. But, ok, there's not a huge difference. It's ok if it's on the stand and the subject isn't moving much.