Introduction: High Speed Photography
With this device you’ll be able to:
take pictures from anything you can sense or detect:
- movement
- sound
- …
You don’t need to modify your camera or flash for this.
It’s compatible with the old High Voltage flashes and the new TTL ones.
Why I did this project?
A friend of me who's really passionate about photography showed me some high speed photography examples. And how expensive the equipment you need is.
I said there must be a DIY solution for that and I started tinkering.
We've done some experiments and you can see the results in the pictures below.
for more pictures from Sanne
see here http://www.flickr.com/people/sannegovaert/
After following this instructable you'll be able to make such pictures too!!
What I would do with the zing
If I win the zing laser cutter then my lab is complete, and will I be able to go crazy.
I'll make: robots, enclosures, front panels, puzzles, build kits, moose heads, etch some cool things
I've been waiting a long time to make this instructable so I could join the zing contest and here I'm
Step 1: Laser Trigger (Light Barrier) Sensor
-the sensor (this step)
-Laser itself (next step)
See the included pictures for the circuits
You'll need:
- a phototransistor / photodiode
- just a resistor like 10k
Step 2: Laser Driver
R = 1.25V / Laser Current in A
You'll need:
- A led laser diode (ebay)
- LM317
- 1 x Resistor
Step 3: Build the Circuits (Arduino)
You can connect everything to an arduino
Or you can make a pcb (see next step) to do the job so you have your arduino free for other projects
connect your lcd to the arduino see the circuit
connect the output of the sensor circuit to the analog pin 0
connect your digital pin 12 to the flash trigger circuit
connect 4 buttons with a pull down resistor to:
- pin6 (delay+)
- pin7 (delay-)
- pin8 (sens+)
- pin9 (sens-)
You can also make a pcb for this i've included the EAGLE files I've used
Attachments
Step 4: Put Everything in a Nice Enclosure
Step 5: Upload the Code
Upload the code to your Arduino
Attachments
Step 6: The Set-up
Use a pipette or a bottle with a hole in the top to make droplets.
Make sure they cross the laser beam.
X = the distance between your pipette and the laser beam
Y = the distance between the laser beam and the surface (in this case a saucer of milk)
the external flash is connected to the arduino with a pc link cable (ebay)
Step 7: Some Calculations
Now we want to know how long it takes from when the droplet start falling till it hit the surface.
U can use this formula (see picture)
(y*2)/(sqrt(2*x*A)+sqrt(2*A*(x+y)))*1000
X = the distance between your pipette and the laser beam
Y = the distance between the laser beam and the surface (in this case a saucer of milk)
A = Gravitational acceleration
to find yours just use wolframalpha
search for: "Gravitational acceleration your country"
(replace your country)
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Gravitational+acceleration+belgium
You don't have to make the calculations, because I've made an excel sheet to calculate the time.
Attachments
Step 8: Results
After some experimenting
this is what we got :D
Post your results in the comments ;)

Participated in the
Pocket Sized Electronics

Participated in the
Epilog Challenge V
24 Discussions
7 years ago on Introduction
Those pictures are AMAZING :O !!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
thnx
Bedankt ;)
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
you're welcome:)
7 years ago on Introduction
Great ible and wow, BEAUTIFUL photos!!! That mix of colors looks like heaven to me!
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
I'm still amazed, how good they look!
thnx for your comment
3 years ago
Hi I have just seen this article and would like to build one as per your direction could you supply the code for this as there is nothing on the link
Thanks
3 years ago
Incredible
4 years ago
I really like you article of high speed photography. I want to do the same for my hobby of high power rocketry. I have a 1/4" lunch rod with a light pipe inside. So when the bird launches the launch lug blocks the light. This is sensed by a photo transistor which triggers the camera.
My problem is I have not found a camera that have fast enough shutter/reaction to catch the bird.
Any suggestion on what camera to use?
Rocket Nut
4 years ago
Where have you found a phototransistor that can stand the 250V trigger voltage of a "high voltage" flash like my old Sunpac 411?
4 years ago
Hey, I wanna try to make this as my semester project. I'm pretty new to all o this and my only question is: are the buttons and lcd screen really neccessary or could I leave those out?
5 years ago
Could you provide the schematic for the flash trigger circuits, as I would love to make one of these and the pictures provided are somewhat unclear.
6 years ago on Introduction
Amazing Pix
Just a quick question : How do you trigger the shutter release on the camera? Is it in anyway sync'd to the flash. I noticed you have a receiver with a PC cord connected to the shutter release, but was'nt sure how you were activating the receiver.
Appreciate your response, and great project once again
Reply 5 years ago on Introduction
Usualy the technique for this pictures is by having the camera on BULB MODE and then the flash does the rest :)
6 years ago on Introduction
impressive work. I raise my hat.
Reply 6 years ago on Introduction
thnx
6 years ago on Step 8
It's perfect. Can I see project's video or pictures. Like button function, LCD screen details.
Reply 6 years ago on Step 8
no there is no video of it
You just get a "boot screen"
after that you'll get a screen with 2 variables you can adjust with the buttons
6 years ago on Introduction
Hi geo bruce,
Great images!
Your photos reminded me of these raindrops hitting my wood deck at sunset. Try capturing this type of photo as the end of rainclouds pass over you and the sun peeks through. I lived in Mons (Bergen) for six years. You'll have the opportunity!
Reply 6 years ago on Introduction
It's nice indeed, but I maybe going for a picture like this
that's another cool effect
Reply 6 years ago on Introduction
Hey Geo Bruce,
Sure you took the time and created an ible, drew electrical
schematics, made a laser, applied physics, and performed mathematical
calculations; but SGMChef took a picture of a raindrop.Give SGM the pat on the back she/he deserves, and see if you can rise to challenge given.