Controlling the shutter of a camera remotely has several uses. The most important – catching a photo at exactly the right time. Many top of the line digital cameras come with remotes. But what if you wanted to build one for your average digital camera? This Arduino powered remote camera trigger hack is the one to follow. In the project, he uses an Arduino, a cheap laser pointer, a photoresistor and a Canon Powershot.

• Use this setup to capture outstanding water droplet shots – How to: High Speed Photography using the Arduino

Tying all these together is the CHDK (Canon Hacker’s Development Kit). It’s an open source firmware enhancing program that juices up a plain old point and shoot into a power camera.

The laser bounces off a mirror to a photoresistor mounted on the Arduino which also is the switch power source. The laser –> mirror -> photoreceptor combine acts as the sensor. When the beam is broken, the Arduino picks up the analog signal from the photoresistor and triggers the camera shutter. The wiki has a detailed page on triggering your setup remotely using a USB cable too. Look into more project details project and some of our own select camera projects:

• DIY Macro Photography Kit on the Cheap
  
• How to: High Speed Photography using the Arduino
• Real Time DIY Pan & Tilt Camera

Update! Don’t miss our famous article:  Top 40 Arduino Projects of the Web.

Previously we introduced you to the Arduino and it’s awe-inspiring incredibleness. Now we’ll take you on an in depth plunge with enough resources and projects to keep you occupied for the next decade.  The best place to get started would definitely be their comprehensive website. I strongly encourage you to browse their resources. They have vast tutorial, learning, hacking and reference sections. Plenty of other websites feature all sorts of arduino projects:

Arduino Tutorials:

1. As usual, Instructables has plenty of tutorials also.
2. If you’ve ever thought, “Can the arduino do…?” Freeduino database has the answer.
3. Ladyada has plenty of information to get you started and more projects to keep you going.
4. This very useful site has outstanding “class notes” to learn from.
5. Makezine has covered plenty of Arduino projects in the past

The Arduino uses the ATmega168. After programming the chip, you can remove it and use it as a standalone with the addition of a single crystal.   We enjoy using it, it’s simple to learn, and can be programmed to do plenty of functions, including robotics. For more fantastic guides and tutorials like this one, subscribe to the HacknMod RSS Feed.