Speedlights are a critical part of my lighting tools. They are lightweight, take AA batteries, and can be controlled right at my camera using my SU800 optical transmitter. But sometimes I need more distance than I can get using my SU800, or I am shooting without line of sight to my flashes. For these situations I use the Pocket Wizard Flex TT5 and Mini TT1. This system uses a radio signal which doesn’t need line of sight, and works at longer distances. And by that I mean a long ways away!
My son was climbing the other day, and I thought a great shot would be photographing him using speedlights. But the catch was I would be more than a 1/4 mile away to get the angle I wanted. I placed two SB900s on a Lastolite Triflash bracket, and attached Pocket Wizard Flex TT5s to trigger the flashes. I used a Mini TT1 on my camera to trigger the flashes. I drove to the overlook I wanted to shoot from, and tried a test shot. Pop! The Pocket Wizards worked every time.