Imaging apparatus and imaging method

An imaging apparatus, comprising:

• an imaging device which includes first rows of pixels including first groups of light receiving elements disposed in a first direction and second rows of pixels including second groups of light receiving elements disposed in the first direction, the first and second rows of pixels being alternately disposed with respect to a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
• first charge transfer lines disposed corresponding to the first rows of the pixels, respectively, and for transferring charges accumulated in the first groups of light receiving elements;
• second charge transfer lines disposed corresponding to the second rows of the pixels, respectively, and for transferring charges accumulated in the second groups of light receiving elements;
• a flash device which flashes and illuminates a subject;
• an imaging instruction device which accepts an input of an imaging instruction;
• an imaging control device which, responsive to the input of the imaging instruction, consecutively performs a subject-illuminating imaging and a subject-non-illuminating imaging, reads out the charges accumulated in the first groups and the second groups of light receiving elements, and transfers the charges accumulated in the first groups and the second groups of light receiving elements via the first and second charge transfer lines, respectively, after the subject-illuminating imaging and the subject-non-illuminating imaging, the subject-illuminating imaging being an operation for taking an image of the subject by the first groups of light receiving elements while illuminating the subject by the flash device, and the subject-non-illuminating imaging being an operation for taking an image of the subject by the second groups of light receiving elements;
• and
• an image acquisition device which acquires an image by the subject-illuminating imaging and an image by the subject-non-illuminating imaging from the charges having been read out and transferred from the first groups and the second groups of light receiving elements, respectively.