For my actuator project I used Max/MSP to trigger a flash and a motor in order to take high speed photographs.  Below I have a schematic, pictures of the setup, and pictures of the effect.  The pictures have to be taken in total darkness leaving the shutter open (using “bulb” or multiple second exposures).  The next time I set this up, I now know that flash duration is shorter with lower power settings on the flash (such as 1/16 or 1/32 of full power) – lowering the power and adding more flashes will produce clearer pictures, completely stopping motion.  I also plan on adding a trigger to the camera as well to open and close the shutter before and after the flash so the entire process is computer automated (this time I opened the shutter then triggered the flash via the computer).  The final goal is to program Max/MSP to instantly download the photo from the camera (via USB) so the photo can be manipulated in Jitter in a live concert.

Click here for the Max/MSP patch (a simple modified Maxuino test-patch = just upload the Pd_firmward.pde to the arduino and open up the flash-trigger max patch in max)

Click here for a video of the circuit

Schematic (most of the idea was taken from this website)