Apparatus, method and program for photography

• US 7,944,483 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yitong
• Primary Examiner(s): Henn; Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kao; Yih-Sien
• Application Number:
  US11/979,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20080122944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348/213, 348/231.3, 396/213
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/161 Detection; Localisation; Normalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A plurality of images are obtained in photography according to a plurality of photography methods, and photography result scores are calculated for the respective images. Judgment is made as to whether a highest score among the scores calculated for the respective images is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value. If a result of the judgment is affirmative, the image having the highest score is recorded in a recording medium. If the result of the judgment is negative, the images are displayed on display means to receive selection of a desired one of the images. The selected image is recorded in the recording medium.

Claims

1. A photography apparatus comprising:

photography means for obtaining an image by photography;

display means for carrying out various kinds of display including the image;

input means for carrying out various kinds of input;

photography control means for controlling the photography means so as to obtain a plurality of images by a plurality of photography operations of a same object according to a plurality of photography methods;

score calculation means for calculating a score of photography results for each of the images;

score judgment means for carrying out judgment as to whether a highest score among the scores calculated for the respective images is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value; and

recording control means for recording the image having the highest score in a recording medium in the case where a result of the judgment is affirmative and for receiving an instruction to select a desired one of the images by display of the images on the display means in the case where the result of the judgment is negative and for recording the selected image in the recording medium, wherein

the photography control means controls the photography means so as to obtain two images,

the photography apparatus further comprises intermediate image generation means for generating an intermediate image between the two images, and

the recording control means displays the intermediate image together with the two images on the display means in such a manner that the intermediate image can be adjusted according to an instruction from the input means in the case where the result of the judgment is negative, and receives an instruction to select a desired intermediate image.

2. The photography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of photography methods are photography methods wherein at least one of exposure, in-focus position, flash emission, gradations, color correction, and white balance is different from each other.

3. The photography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording control means displays a region of a main subject in each of the images on the display means by enlarging the region in the case where the result of the judgment is negative.

4. A photography method for a photography apparatus having photography means for obtaining an image by photography, display means for carrying various kinds of display including the image, and input means for carrying out various kinds of input, the method comprising the steps of;

obtaining a plurality of images by a plurality of photography operations of a same object according to a plurality of photography methods;

calculating a score of photography results for each of the images;

carrying out judgment as to whether a highest score among the scores calculated for the respective images is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value;

recording the image having the highest score in a recording medium in the case where a result of the judgment is affirmative;

receiving an instruction to select a desired one of the images by display of the images on the display means in the case where the result of the judgment is negative; and

recording the selected image in the recording medium, wherein

the step of obtaining a plurality of images includes obtaining two images, and

the photography method further comprises the step of generating an intermediate image between the two images, and displaying the intermediate image together with the two images on the display means in such a manner that the intermediate image can be adjusted according to an instruction from the input means in the case where the result of the judgment is negative, and receives an instruction to select a desired intermediate image.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a photography method for a photography apparatus having photography means for obtaining an image by photography, display means for carrying various kinds of display including the image, and input means for carrying out various kinds of input, the program comprising the procedures of:

obtaining a plurality of images by a plurality of photography operations of a same object according to a plurality of photography methods;

calculating a score of photography results for each of the images;

carrying out judgment as to whether a highest score among the scores calculated for the respective images is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value;

recording the image having the highest score in a recording medium in the case where a result of the judgment is affirmative;

receiving an instruction to select a desired one of the images by display of the images on the display means in the case where the result of the judgment is negative; and

recording the selected image in the recording medium, wherein

the procedure of obtaining a plurality of images includes obtaining two images, and

the program further comprises the procedures of generating an intermediate image between the two images, and displaying the intermediate image together with the two images on the display means in such a manner that the intermediate image can be adjusted according to an instruction from the input means in the case where the result of the judgment is negative, and receives an instruction to select a desired intermediate image.

6. A photography apparatus comprising:

a photography unit for obtaining an image by photography;

a display unit for carrying out various kinds of display including the image;

an input unit for carrying out various kinds of input;

a photography control unit for controlling the photography unit so as to obtain a plurality of images by a plurality of photography operations of a same object according to a plurality of photography methods;

a score calculation unit for calculating a score of photography results for each of the images;

a score judgment unit for carrying out judgment as to whether a highest score among the scores calculated for the respective images is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value; and

a recording control unit for recording the image having the highest score in a recording medium in the case where a result of the judgment is affirmative and for receiving an instruction to select a desired one of the images by display of the images on the display unit in the case where the result of the judgment is negative and for recording the selected image in the recording medium, wherein

the photography control unit controls the photography unit so as to obtain two images,

the photography apparatus further comprises an intermediate image generation unit for generating an intermediate image between the two images, and

the recording control unit displays the intermediate image together with the two images on the display unit in such a manner that the intermediate image can be adjusted according to an instruction from the input unit in the case where the result of the judgment is negative, and receives an instruction to select a desired intermediate image.