How can I increase shutter speed while using remote flash

You could just add the pages and we could get the updates . Your e-book is marvelously written. It was by reading your book that I dug out the flash again, up until that time it was gathering dust since I bought it a few months ago, had been frustrated trying some setups and that added to the lousy manual it came with it just put me off. But then getting to read your book encouraged me to give it a try and I must say I am starting to love using flash setups . One feels more in control again

Funny you mention this I have just been having a thought of doing something of the kind. Half of my shots of last time got ruined because light filtered through my lens and it just destroyed the images that I could really have done with. The aim really is to light only the portion of the smoke that I want to so I guess I am off raiding the kitchen for tin foil. Hope wife doesn't start thinking I am off to cook dinner

Thanks Matt, I will get some done and let you know how it went. I think I have all the info required now to lock myself into the shed again, and this time its not going for birds

Amin

Thanks Amin you have saved me asking the same question about being limited to 1/180 flash speed when I want 1/250 or higher for sporting action. I have followed the various comments with great interest. maybe high iso and high shutter speed is the answer( I have not tried it yet)

I could have saved myself a lot of experimentation by reading this thread earlier. Actually, experimenting is fun but your comments help with the confusion that sometimes follows. Thanks!

One additional point: If I invest in a second 540 flash so I can run one on camera and one as a slave, is there any advantage in using the hot shoe adapter plus sync cable? Would this simply reduce the number of comunicating flashes or allow a wider range of setting combinations? Or are they redundant as well as over-priced?

Regards,
JC

Over priced, maybe, but try building one yourself.
Using a cable should reduce some of the communications flashes, but more importantly it also works under bright overpowering sunlight and where the light might not reflect back to the other flash (outdoors, or facing different directions for bounce).
Sadly, with the cable you're stuck to relatively short distances and other cable-realated issues.

Fast and useful! Thanks for that. I will have to think carefully about where I might use this set-up.

Cheers,
JC