Smart Flash - Active Style Camera
research on programmable modular camera
by Danqing Shi, Ke Fang, Zhicong Lu, Mengxing Ao, Chang Liu (Tsinghua University) , supported by Intel
Traditionally, camera merely records the scene from the perspective of the photographer. We propose the Active Style Camera, which introduces active intervention to the scene, adding a new dimension to photographing experience. The prototype, Smart Flash, implements this concept. Using a projector with an auto-controlled shutter, Smart Flash actively perceives the scene and intervenes in it by “flashing” simulated
effects created by the photographer to the real world. The effect preference setting can be stored as a certain “style” that is digitally sharable. Other users can download any of those “styles” to their own Active Style Camera and apply to different subjects. In our experiment, we tested virtual lighting and digital makeup effects for portrait photography. Both professional photographer and common user’s feedback is discussed in the user study.
