Photographic synchronization optimization system and method

1. A method of synchronizing a photographic lighting device to image acquisition by a camera, the camera generating one or more detectible signals and/or events between a first time at which the camera is triggered to start an image acquisition sequence and a second time at which the camera allows light to pass to an imaging sensor for capturing an image for the image acquisition sequence, the method comprising:

identifying a balance point of a light emission profile for a photographic lighting device associated with the camera;

detecting a predictor signal and/or event occurring between the first and second times, the predictor signal and/or event not being a signal or event intended by the camera for instructing the initiation of an X-sync lighting emission;

based on the detecting of the predictor signal and/or event, wirelessly communicating a wireless signal to the photographic lighting device; and

based on the predictor signal and/or event and the wireless signal, initiating light emission of the photographic lighting device at a third time after the occurrence of the predictor signal and/or event, the third time not being a time at which the camera is configured to provide an X-sync or an FP-sync light emission, the third time being determined using the balance point to position the balance point at a desired location in an image acquisition window.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired location is about in the center of the image acquisition window.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired location is at a location in the image acquisition window that is other than the center of the image acquisition window.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the balance point is a light energy balance point.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the balance point is a lateral light energy balance point.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the balance point is a 1/x energy balance point.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the balance point is a vertical light energy balance point.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the balance point is a T0.x energy balance point.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired location is determined using a user input.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the third time is determined using an offset value to modify the desired location.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the photographic lighting device is remote from the camera, the camera is associated with a first wireless communication functionality, and the photographic lighting device is associated with a second wireless communication functionality, such that the camera and the first wireless communication functionality represent a camera side of a wireless communication and the photographic lighting device and the second wireless communication functionality represent a lighting device side of the wireless communication, and wherein the third time is determined at the camera side.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the photographic lighting device is remote from the camera, the camera is associated with a first wireless communication functionality, and the photographic lighting device is associated with a second wireless communication functionality, such that the camera and the first wireless communication functionality represent a camera side of a wireless communication and the photographic lighting device and the second wireless communication functionality represent a lighting device side of the wireless communication, and wherein the third time is determined at the lighting device side.

13. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining camera shutter information;

wirelessly communicating the camera shutter information to the remote lighting device, wherein the third time is determined after wirelessly communicating the camera shutter information using the camera shutter information.

14. A method of synchronizing a photographic lighting device to image acquisition by a camera, the camera generating one or more detectible signals and/or events between a first time at which the camera is triggered to start an image acquisition sequence and a second time at which the camera allows light to pass to an imaging sensor for capturing an image for the image acquisition sequence, the method comprising:

identifying a light energy balance point of a light emission profile for a photographic lighting device associated with the camera;

detecting a predictor signal and/or event occurring between the first and second times, the predictor signal and/or event not being a signal or event intended by the camera for instructing the initiation of an X-sync lighting emission;

based on the detecting of the predictor signal and/or event, wirelessly communicating a wireless signal to the photographic lighting device; and

based on the predictor signal and/or event and the wireless signal, initiating light emission of the photographic lighting device at a third time after the occurrence of the predictor signal and/or event, the third time not being a time at which the camera is configured to provide an X-sync or an FP-sync light emission, the third time being determined using the light energy balance point to position the light energy balance point at a location about in the center of an image acquisition window.

15. A system for wirelessly synchronizing a photographic lighting device to an image acquisition by a camera, the system comprising:

one or more processing elements;

a wireless communications circuitry; and

one or more memory elements, said one or more memory elements configured with information for instructing the one or more processing elements to:

identify a balance point of a light emission profile for a photographic lighting device associated with the camera;

detect a predictor signal and/or event occurring between the first and second times, the predictor signal and/or event not being a signal or event intended by the camera for instructing the initiation of an X-sync lighting emission;

based on the detecting of a predictor signal and/or event, use the wireless communications circuitry to wirelessly communicate a wireless signal to the photographic lighting device; and

based on the predictor signal and/or event and the wireless signal, initiating light emission of the photographic lighting device at a third time after the occurrence of the predictor signal and/or event, the third time not being a time at which the camera is configured to provide an X-sync or an FP-sync light emission, the third time being determined using the balance point to position the balance point at a desired location in an image acquisition window.

16. A system according to claim 15 , further comprising a user input configured to receive information to be included in determining the desired location.

17. A system according to claim 15 , wherein the photographic lighting device is remote from the camera, the camera is associated with a first wireless communication functionality, and the photographic lighting device is associated with a second wireless communication functionality, such that the camera and the first wireless communication functionality represent a camera side of a wireless communication and the photographic lighting device and the second wireless communication functionality represent a lighting device side of the wireless communication, and wherein the camera and/or the first wireless communication functionality include at least one of the one or more processing elements configured for determining the third time at the camera side.

18. A system according to claim 15 , wherein the photographic lighting device is remote from the camera, the camera is associated with a first wireless communication functionality, and the photographic lighting device is associated with a second wireless communication functionality, such that the camera and the first wireless communication functionality represent a camera side of a wireless communication and the photographic lighting device and the second wireless communication functionality represent a lighting device side of the wireless communication, and wherein the photographic lighting device and/or the second wireless communication functionality include at least one of the one or more processing elements configured for determining the third time at the lighting device side.

19. A system according to claim 15 , wherein the balance point is a 1/x energy balance point.

20. A system according to claim 15 , wherein the balance point is a T0.x energy balance point.