Arduino – Chad Dotson

DSLR Lightning Trigger 3

By chad April 26, 2015Arduino, Hobbies, Photography, Programming, Software Engineering1 Comment

Finally Some Lightning ... IT WORKS! Tonight, I was finally able to deploy the prototype of my lightning trigger. The storm wasn't particularly photogenic, but it at least helped prove the concept. Lightning was slim and no bolts were in the best area for my camera, but the camera did…

DSLR Lightning Trigger 2

By chad April 5, 2015Arduino, Hobbies, Photography, Programming, Software Engineering, Technology5 Comments

Lightning Drought Back in September, I created a simple Arduino-based lightning trigger (original article). I've been waiting since then for the chance to test the circuit in the field. Yesterday provided the first real chance to test the circuit; unfortunately, I missed it. Improving the Program Even though I missed…

Hardware vs Software – A Realization

By chad February 21, 2015Arduino, Raspberry Pi, TechnologyNo Comments

I spent some time over the past year tinkering with Arduinos and Raspberry Pis and had a bit of a realization: Hardware circuit components are simply the syntax for creating physical devices. As a software person, putting hardware into that context has really given it a lot of meaning.

DSLR Lightning Trigger

By chad September 7, 2014Arduino, Hobbies, Photography, Programming, Raspberry Pi, Software Engineering, Technology8 Comments

Lightning I use my Nikon D5000 to take a lot of lightning photos. This one to the right is a composite of several taken during a storm that produced a good amount of of photogenic lightning a few years back. The photos that make up this one and many of…