Method and apparatus for detecting, recording and using scene information in a photographic system

A method of operating a photographic camera to record data relating to flash illumination in correspondence with recording a latent image of a subject onto a picture frame of a photographic film, comprising the steps of:

• actuating a shutter to expose said frame to record said image;
• triggering an electronic flash in response to said shutter actuation;
• sensing to determine if said triggered flash is fired;
• in response to sensing said firing of said flash, sensing to determine if illumination generated by said flash is returned back from said subject during said exposure;
• and
• recording data on said film in association with said frame to indicate said sensing of the return or non-return of said illumination.

In a photographic camera adapted to record data in correspondence with recording a latent image of a subject onto a picture frame of a photographic film, said camera including an electronic flash, means for exposing said frame to record said image, and means for triggering said flash to provide flash illumination during said exposure, apparatus comprising:

• first sensing means, connected with said flash, for determining if said flash, triggered by said triggering means, is fired;
• second sensing means, responsive to the firing of said flash sensed by said first sensing means, for determining if illumination generated by said flash is reflected back from said subject during operation of said frame exposing means to expose said frame;
• and
• recording means, connected with said second sensing means, for recording data on said film in association with said frame to indicate if said reflected illumination is sensed.

In a photographic camera adapted to record data in correspondence with recording a latent image of a subject onto a picture frame of a photographic film, said camera including an electronic flash, a shutter, means for actuating said shutter for exposing said frame to record said image, and means for triggering said flash in response to actuation of said shutter, apparatus comprising:

• first sensing means, connected with said flash, for determining if said flash, triggered by said triggering means, is fired;
• second sensing means, connected to said first sensing means and responsive to sensing said firing of said flash, for determining if illumination generated by said flash is returned back from said subject;
• and
• recording means, connected with said second sensing means, for recording data on said film in association with said frame to indicate the sensing by said second sensing means of the return or non-return of said illumination.

A method of exposing and printing a picture frame of a photographic film, comprising the steps of:

• actuating a camera to expose said frame to record a latent image of a subject;
• triggering an electronic flash during said exposure;
• sensing to determine if said triggered flash fired;
• sensing to determine if illumination generated by said flash firing is returned back from said subject during said exposure;
• in response to sensing said firing of said flash, recording data on said film in association with said frame to indicate the return or non-return of said illumination;
• developing said film to produce a negative image from said latent image;
• sensing said data from said film to determine if said flash illumination was returned back from said subject during said exposure;
• and
• actuating a printing system to print said negative image onto a photosensitive medium in accordance with print parameters automatically chosen at least in part based on said sensed data.