Apparatus for supporting a camera to face a subject to be photographed and for illuminating the subject

Claim 1

A photographic assemblage comprising a camera with an electronic flash unit for providing a flash exposure light pulse, is characterized in that: a single auxiliary lamp provides a subject-conditioning pre-flash light pulse before said electronic flash unit provides the flash exposure light pulse; an infrared emitter in said camera emits infrared radiation from a radiation egress opening in the camera; a phototransistor is capable of receiving the infrared radiation; a lamp circuit connected to said phototransistor causes said auxiliary lamp to provide the pre-flash light pulse before said electronic flash unit provides the flash exposure light pulse, when said phototransistor receives the infrared radiation; a filter at said radiation egress opening prevents ambient non-infrared radiation from entering the radiation egress opening but allows infrared radiation to be emitted from the radiation egress opening to said phototransistor; and a selector has a selection setting for causing said auxiliary lamp to be continuously on to provide continuous illumination, including when said electronic flash unit provides the flash exposure light pulse, instead of providing the pre-flash light pulse.