Self-portrait system with an antique large format camera.

Arduino, oak, and creativity

If I wanted to take a selfie with my self-built large format camera, how should I do it?
I’ve tried a thousand different ways to take a wet collodion selfie. First in front of a mirror and then using objects to calculate the correct focus.
The problem was always the “shutter release,” that is, the moment I have to remove the lens cap and then put it back at the end of the exposure.
Blur is inevitable, as is frustration.

A selfie, 1852 style

Those who know me know that I don’t give up easily, so I came up with a system that would allow me to remotely control a shutter.
With the help of Simone Frascarelli, I started assembling a small remote control to operate a solenoid for opening and closing the shutter mechanism of my Xenar 4.5 210mm lens. However, we quickly realized the technical limitations of the proposed solution, and the project remained unfinished for some time.
Then, during the general lockdown, I had the opportunity to delve deeper into the subject. I decided to control everything using an Arduino and a servo motor.

So I armed myself with patience and curiosity, purchased my first Arduino kit, and started studying.
Once I solved the issues related to the electronics and software (thanks to my computer science background, it wasn’t too difficult in the end), I focused on the physical construction of a shutter that could house the entire mechanism and the 9V battery needed for power.