JP4635742B2 - Imaging apparatus and imaging program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging program.

As a technique for assisting shooting of a moving subject, there is provided an autofocus technology that automatically tracks the movement of the subject and automatically follows the focal length of the taking lens according to the distance to the subject.
On the other hand, Patent Document 1 recognizes the orientation of the subject's face based on the image of the subject captured by the image sensor, and sets the orientation of the subject's face to a specific direction (for example, front to the camera). A technique for photographing a subject when facing the camera is disclosed.

Further, Patent Document 2 observes a change in luminance of a subject based on an image of the subject captured by an image sensor for a subject whose luminance changes such as fireworks, and the luminance of the subject exceeds a predetermined luminance value. A technique for photographing a subject at the time is disclosed.
JP 2001-51338 A JP 2003-163830 A

With the above-described autofocus technology, it is possible to maintain a state where the subject is in focus.
However, in the conventional autofocus technology, the timing of pressing the release button is ultimately left to the photographer. Therefore, even though the focus operation is activated by half-pressing the release button, the subject is kept in focus, but the subject is captured where and how big on the screen. Whether or not a photograph is taken, that is, whether or not it is possible to photograph with a satisfactory composition depends on the skill of the photographer.

On the other hand, in the technique of Patent Document 1 and the technique of Patent Document 2, although the photographing timing is automated, the subject that can be automatically photographed is limited to a human face in the technique of Patent Document 1, and Patent Document The technique of 2 is limited to fireworks.
Therefore, advanced shooting techniques are still needed to capture a wide range of subjects, such as children and animals running in athletic events, and cars in races, with good composition and proper focus. The fact has not changed. That is, it is very difficult for beginners to photograph these subjects regardless of whether autofocus technology or the like is applied.

An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus and an imaging program capable of acquiring an image having an appropriate composition .

The first imaging device disclosed herein includes an observation unit, an analysis unit, a prediction unit, and an imaging control unit .
The first imaging device of the present disclosure includes: an observation unit that observes at least a change in position of an object image captured by the imaging unit; and a movement of the subject based on an observation result obtained by the observation unit. Based on the analysis result by the analyzing means, a predicting means for predicting the photographing timing at which the subject can be photographed under a desired photographing condition, and the imaging at the photographing timing predicted by the predicting means Photographing control means for executing photographing processing of the image of the subject captured by the means, and the photographing control means relates to the photographing timing obtained by the predicting means based on the analysis result obtained by the analyzing means. An accuracy estimation means for estimating the prediction accuracy, and the image capturing timing based on the prediction accuracy obtained by the accuracy estimation means. And setting at least one shot timing candidates in time, and a timing setting means for providing the execution of the photographing processing.

The second imaging device disclosed in the present disclosure includes an observation unit that observes at least a change in position of an object image captured by the imaging unit, and a movement of the subject based on an observation result obtained by the observation unit. Based on the analysis result by the analyzing means, a predicting means for predicting the photographing timing at which the subject can be photographed under a desired photographing condition, and the imaging at the photographing timing predicted by the predicting means Photographing control means for performing photographing processing of the image of the subject captured by the means, and the observation means obtains image data representing the face of the subject with respect to at least one subject image captured by the imaging means. Analyzing the face extraction means to extract and the image data extracted by the face extraction means to determine the face orientation of the subject and observe the determination result Orientation determining means for outputting as part of the result, and the analyzing means relates to the orientation of the subject's face based on the discrimination result relating to the orientation of the subject's face included in the observation result obtained by the observation means. A feature extraction unit that extracts a feature of the motion and outputs it as a part of the analysis result, wherein the prediction unit is predicted based on the feature of the motion extracted by the feature extraction unit; The shooting timing is determined based on the timing that satisfies the determination condition related to the shooting condition and the timing that the position of the subject is predicted to satisfy the determination condition related to the shooting condition.

The first imaging program of the present disclosure observes the movement of the subject based on changes in the position and size of the subject image captured by the imaging means, and based on the observation result obtained by the observation procedure. Analyzing the movement of the subject, predicting a shooting timing at which the subject can be shot under a desired shooting condition based on an analysis result of the analysis procedure, and taking the imaging means at the shooting timing predicted by the prediction procedure When performing the shooting process of the image of the subject captured in the above, and estimating the prediction accuracy related to the predicted shooting timing based on the analysis result obtained by the analysis, the estimation Based on the prediction accuracy obtained by the above, at least one shooting timing candidate is set at a predetermined time including the shooting timing, and shooting is performed. To execute a process to be subjected to management of the execution on the computer

The second imaging program of the present disclosure observes the movement of the subject based on changes in the position and size of the subject image captured by the imaging means, and based on the obtained observation result, Based on the analysis result of the movement of the subject, the shooting timing at which the subject can be shot under a desired shooting condition is predicted, and the subject captured by the imaging unit at the predicted shooting timing is analyzed. When performing image shooting processing and observing the movement of the subject, image data representing the face of the subject is extracted from the image of at least one subject captured by the imaging means, and the extracted image data is extracted. Analyzing the orientation of the face of the subject, outputting the discrimination result as a part of the observation result, and analyzing the movement of the subject, the face of the subject included in the observation result Based on the determination result regarding the image, the feature of the motion related to the orientation of the face of the subject is extracted and output as a part of the analysis result, and the orientation of the extracted face of the subject is predicted when the shooting timing is predicted A timing that is predicted based on a feature of motion, and a timing that satisfies a determination condition that the orientation of the face of the subject is related to the shooting condition; and a timing that is predicted to satisfy the determination condition that the position of the subject is related to the shooting condition; The computer is caused to execute processing for determining the photographing timing based on the above.

As described above, according to the imaging apparatus and the imaging program according to the present invention, it is possible to acquire an image with an appropriate composition.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention.
In the image pickup processing unit 210 shown in FIG. 1, an image of a subject is formed on an image pickup device 212 such as a CCD by the optical system 211, and the output signal of the image pickup device 212 is processed by the signal processing unit 213, whereby the optical system Image data representing the image of the subject captured in the field of view 211 is generated at a predetermined time interval, for example, and temporarily stored in the memory 214. Further, the automatic focus control unit 215 shown in FIG. 1 measures the image data stored in the memory 214 or the distance to the subject by the distance measurement unit (not shown) in response to an instruction from the imaging control unit 220. Based on the result, the optical system 211 is operated to keep the subject in focus.

  Further, the observation processing unit 216 shown in FIG. 1 each time new image data is written into the memory 214 by the signal processing unit 213, the position of the subject image included in the new image data, that is, the subject image. The image plane position is detected, and the detected image plane position is transferred to the motion analysis unit 217 together with the detection time. The motion analysis unit 217 calculates a moving speed (image plane speed) of the subject on the image plane based on the image plane position and detection time passed from the observation processing unit 216.

  For example, when the image plane position of the subject is obtained from two pieces of image data (hereinafter referred to as frames A and B) as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the motion analysis unit 217 As shown in FIG. 2E, the image plane speed can be obtained from the difference between the image plane position of the frame A and the image plane position of the frame B and the difference between the detection times. Further, based on the image plane position and detection time observed by the observation processing unit 216 for three or more frames, the motion analysis unit 217 can determine the image plane speed and acceleration.

Here, the position of the subject image can be reliably obtained for any subject as long as it can extract the focused subject image. It can be applied to a wide variety of subjects.
Based on the image plane speed obtained in this way, the prediction processing unit 218 estimates the time at which the image plane position of the subject reaches the optimum position in shooting a standard scene (see FIG. 2E). ), This time is output as a shooting timing, and used for processing of the shooting control unit 220.

  Note that, depending on the scene to be photographed, the optimal image plane position of the subject may be different from the optimal image plane position in the standard scene described above. In order to deal with such a case, in the condition table 219 shown in FIG. 1, the coordinate value of the optimum image plane position corresponding to various photographing scenes is stored as a judgment condition, and the photographing control unit In response to an instruction from 220, it is also possible to read out the corresponding determination condition from the condition table 219 and predict the optimum shooting timing based on the analysis result obtained by the motion analysis unit 217 and the determination condition. .

  In the imaging control unit 220 illustrated in FIG. 1, the recording control unit 223 causes the imaging processing unit 210 to perform an imaging operation in accordance with the imaging timing obtained by the prediction processing unit 218 or an instruction from the operation reception unit 224. In response to the execution of the photographing operation, the image data held in the memory 214 is read out and transferred to the writing processing unit 221, and the image data is recorded on the recording medium 222. Further, the operation reception unit 224 illustrated in FIG. 1 receives a release operation by a user and setting operations related to various functions, and instructs each unit. For example, in response to a half-press of a release button (not shown), the operation reception unit 224 sends an activation instruction to the automatic focus control unit 215. Further, in response to a scene setting operation relating to the type of scene to be photographed, the operation receiving unit 224 sends an instruction indicating an appropriate determination condition to the prediction processing unit 218, while on the other hand, in response to a function setting operation relating to the release, The control for enabling one of the release operation by the automatic release function based on the photographing timing obtained as described above is performed.

Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus when the automatic release function is enabled will be described in detail.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the imaging apparatus.
When a release button (not shown) is half-pressed by the user (step 301 in FIG. 3), an automatic exposure operation and an autofocus operation are executed (step 302 in FIG. 3), and then as shown in FIG. The observation processing unit 216, the motion analysis unit 217, and the prediction processing unit 218 perform processing for predicting the optimal shooting timing To as described above (step 303), and the predicted shooting timing To is set to the shooting control unit 220. To the recording control unit 223.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration of the recording control unit.
In the recording control unit 223 shown in FIG. 4, accuracy computing section 231, along with receiving the photographing timing _{T o} as described above from the prediction processing unit 218, calculation of the image plane velocity _{V s} from the motion analysis unit 217 along with the image plane velocity _{V s} receives the detection time T ₁ used in, using these values, obtain the prediction accuracy a _o of photographing timing T _o (step 304 in FIG. 3).

At this time, accuracy computing section 231, for example, image plane velocity _{V s,} the photographing timing _{T o} and detection time _{T 1,} the weighting factor _{W v} about image plane velocity _{V s} and photographing timing _{T o} and the detected time _{T 1} by substituting the weight coefficient W _t about the difference in equation (1), as a value monotonically decreases in accordance with increase in the difference between the increased and photographing timing T _o of the image plane velocity V _s and the detection time T _1, The prediction accuracy _Ao can be obtained.

_{A o = 1 / (W t} × (T o -T 1) + W v × V s) ··· (1)
It is also possible to add a term relating to the image plane acceleration α to the denominator of Equation (1).
Such prediction accuracy A _o thus obtained is, in the determination process unit 232 shown in FIG. 4, it is compared with the predetermined threshold A _t (step 305 in FIG. 3).
If the prediction accuracy A _o is smaller than the threshold value A _t (negative determination in step 305), determination processing unit 232, resulting necessarily optimum shooting satisfying image is captured in the predicted capturing timing T _o It is determined that it is not possible, and processing for capturing a plurality of candidate images is started.

In this case, the determination processing unit 232, first, the seek appropriate number of candidates N based on the inverse of the prediction accuracy A _o, seek appropriate photographing interval T _d based on the image plane velocity V _s (step 308) The number N of candidates and the shooting interval _Td are passed to the timing control unit 233 shown in FIG. 4 to instruct the start of continuous shooting processing.
In response to this, the timing control unit 233 uses the function of the timer 234 to set N shooting timing candidates in a period corresponding to the product of the number N of candidates and the shooting interval _Tr with the shooting timing To as the center. setting the T ₁ ~T _n. Whenever the time indicated by these shooting timing candidates T _{1 to} T _n arrives, the timing control unit 233 sends a shooting instruction for instructing execution of the shooting process to the imaging processing unit 210 as a destination. In response, the imaging process by the imaging processor 210 is performed (step 309 in FIG. 3).

In this way, candidate images obtained by shooting at N shooting timing candidates T _{1 to} T _n are sequentially read from the memory 214 by the reading processing unit 235 shown in FIG. Then, an image satisfying the optimum photographing condition is selected from these candidate images, and is supplied to the writing processing to the recording medium 222 by the writing processing unit 221 (step 310).

For example, the selection processing unit 236 evaluates the quality of the composition of each candidate image by extracting the subject image from each of the N candidate images and analyzing the position and size in each image plane. Then, the selection process described above can be realized by selecting the candidate image with the highest evaluation result and passing it to the writing processing unit 221.
In this way, when the prediction accuracy is low, by acquiring candidate images for each of a plurality of imaging timing candidates, for example, an extremely moving object such as a vehicle that runs at high speed or an animal that runs in front of the eyes. Even for a violent subject, it is possible to reliably obtain an image that captures the optimal moment and record it on the recording medium 222.

It is also possible to ask the user for a candidate image for which an evaluation result exceeding a predetermined threshold is obtained. For example, the corresponding candidate image can be displayed on a liquid crystal screen (not shown) to prompt the user to select, and the candidate image designated by the user can be selectively passed to the writing processing unit 221.
On the other hand, when the prediction accuracy A _o is greater than the threshold value A _t (affirmative determination in step 305), determination processing unit 232, ensures optimum shooting condition is satisfied captured in the predicted capturing timing T _o It is determined that an image can be obtained. In this case, in response to an instruction from the determination processing unit 232, the timing control unit 233, the photographing timing T _o, single shooting instruction is sent to the imaging processing unit 210, the imaging processing by the imaging processing unit 210, It is automatically executed in the imaging timing T _o (step 306). The image data written in the memory 214 by this photographing process is read out by the reading processing unit 235, passed as it is to the writing processing unit 221 via the selection processing unit 236, and recorded on the recording medium 222 (step 308). ), The shooting process using the automatic release function ends.

As described above, by using the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment , it is possible to shoot a wide variety of subjects under the optimal shooting conditions regardless of the shooting skill of the user.
Further, in a case where prediction accuracy A _o in step 305 described above is lower than the threshold value A _t, if there is a margin in delay time until the predicted capturing timing T _o, observation processing section 216, a motion It is also possible to execute the imaging timing prediction process by the analysis unit 217 and the prediction processing unit 218 again.

By executing such a procedure, it is possible to predict the photographing timing with higher accuracy. Accordingly, the prediction accuracy is calculated again for the newly predicted shooting timing, and shooting based on a single automatic release at the shooting timing or continuous shooting at a plurality of shooting timing candidates according to the comparison result between the prediction accuracy and the threshold value. By executing this, it can be expected that an image capturing the subject with a good composition will be obtained more reliably.
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

In the observation processing unit 216 illustrated in FIG. 5, when the extraction processing unit 237 receives a notification from the imaging control unit 220 that a scene setting operation has been performed on a person as a subject, first, the memory of the imaging processing unit 210. Images of main subjects are extracted from the image data read from 214 (see FIG. 1).
At this time, the extraction processing unit 237 first extracts all images that are in focus other than the background, and selects an image with the largest area as an image of the main subject from these images. It is possible to extract a subject image.

Information indicating the image portion of the main subject extracted by the extraction processing unit 237 in this manner is provided to the processing by the image plane position detection unit 238, and further, the extraction processing unit 237 further extracts the main subject image. Image data of a portion representing a person's face is extracted from the image, and is subjected to processing of the orientation determination processing unit 239.
For example, when image data as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D is obtained, the extraction processing unit 237 first performs a portion of the image of the subject shown in white in these image data and this portion. Information relating to the position occupied on the screen is passed to the image plane position detection unit 238. Based on these pieces of information, the image plane position detection unit 238 performs, for example, a process for obtaining the position of the center of gravity of the image of the subject, and as shown in FIG. The image plane position of the subject at the time corresponding to the data can be obtained.

  Further, for these subject images, the extraction processing unit 237 extracts, for example, a part in which the color indicated by the image data is a general skin color, thereby selectively discriminating the orientation of the image data representing the face part. It can be passed to the processing unit 239. With respect to the image data of the face portion extracted in this manner, the orientation determination processing unit 239 detects the positions of eyes, nose, mouth, and the like, and performs a process of examining these positional relationships, whereby FIG. ) Can be obtained by attaching the signs θa to θd to the orientation of the face of the subject with respect to the imaging apparatus.

Based on the observation results obtained in this way, the motion analysis unit 217, for example, the image plane positions indicated by reference characters Pa and Pb in FIG. 6E and the corresponding detection times Ta and Tb. The image plane speed V _s of the subject is determined from the difference between the face orientations (shown with reference signs θa and θb in FIG. 6F) and the detection time described above. The rotation speed V _r of the face of the subject is obtained from the difference between Ta and Tb, and the obtained image plane speed V _s and rotation speed V _r are provided to the processing of the prediction processing unit 218.

In response to this, the prediction processing unit 218 performs a process of predicting the shooting timing T _r related to the direction of the subject, together with a process of predicting the shooting timing T _s based on the change in the position of the subject. Further, photographing timing T _s obtained in each _process, on the basis of T _r, this prediction processing unit 218, the final photographing timing T _o is determined and subjected to the processing of the imaging control unit 220.

At this time, for example, the prediction processing unit 218 determines which of the subject image plane position and the subject face direction should be given priority according to the scene type selected in the scene setting, and the corresponding shooting timing T. _{s (or} photographing timing T _r) can be a final photographing timing T _o. Further, as shown in FIG. 6E, when the change in the image plane position of the subject is small, as shown in FIG. 6C, the subject is changed based on the change in the orientation of the face of the subject. it is also possible orientations of the face selects a photographing timing T _r which is expected to be oriented with slightly shifted from the front of the imaging device as the final photographing timing T _o.

On the basis of the predicted capturing timing T _o, by photographing control unit 220, by performing at least one shot process, not only the position of the subject, optimal considering the orientation of the face of the subject Image data shot with the composition can be recorded on the recording medium 222 (see FIG. 1) and provided to the user.
In this case, it is related to the extraction accuracy of the image data representing the face of the subject and the direction discrimination processing by evaluating the prediction accuracy of the shooting timing including the observation accuracy related to the orientation of the face of the subject in the observation processing unit 216 described above. Depending on the discrimination accuracy, an appropriate number of candidate images can be acquired and used for the optimum image data selection process.

For example, the accuracy computing section 231 shown in FIG. 4, for example, image plane velocity _{V s,} the rotational speed _{V r,} the face determination accuracy _{A f} relating to a face determination process, the photographing timing _{T o} and detection time _{T 1,} image plane velocity the weighting coefficient _{W v} and the rotational speed _{V r} related to the weighting coefficient _{W r} and face discrimination systems related to the weighting factor _{W f} and photographing timing _{T o} the equation and the weighting factor _{W t} about the difference between the detection time _{T 1} on the V _s (2) by substituting, monotonously decreases in accordance with the difference increasing with increased and photographing timing T _o and the detected time T ₁ of the image plane velocity V _s or rotational speed V _r, with improvement of the face determination accuracy a _f As a value that increases, the prediction accuracy _Ao can be obtained.

_{A o = A f × W f} / (W t × (T o -T 1) + W v × V s + W r × V r) ··· (2)
By the way, each function performed by the observation processing unit 216, the motion analysis unit 217, the prediction processing unit 218, and the recording control unit 223 described above is installed in the imaging apparatus with a program that causes a computer to execute processing necessary for these functions. This can be realized by causing a microprocessor to execute. Therefore, the above-described automatic release function is not limited to a newly commercialized imaging device, but by adding a program related to the function of each unit described above by maintenance work such as updating the firmware of the microprocessor, the user can already use the automatic release function. It is also possible to apply to an imaging apparatus that is in the hands of

According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, regardless of the shooting skill of the user and regardless of the type of the subject, the shooting is automatically executed at the moment when the moving subject is captured with a good composition. Can do.
Such a feature can solve the weak point of digital cameras that it is difficult for ordinary users to grasp the shutter chance at a stroke, so in the digital camera field where the user base is greatly expanded to a wide range of users, it is extremely This is a useful feature.

1 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure explaining an imaging timing prediction process. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement of an imaging device. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a recording control part. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment of the imaging device concerning this invention. It is a figure explaining an imaging timing prediction process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 210 ... Imaging processing part 211 ... Optical system 212 ... Imaging device 213 ... Signal processing part 214 ... Memory 215 ... Automatic focus control part 216 ... Observation processing part 217 ... Motion analysis part 218 ... Prediction processing part 219 ... Condition table, 220 ... Shooting control unit, 221 ... Write processing unit, 222 ... Recording medium, 223 ... Recording control unit, 224 ... Operation reception unit, 224 ... Operation reception unit, 231 ... Accuracy calculation unit, 232 ... Determination processing unit, 233... Timing control unit, 234... Timer, 235... Read processing unit, 236... Selection processing unit, 237... Extraction processing unit, 238.

Claims (7)

An observation means for observing at least a change in the position of the subject image captured by the imaging means;
Analysis means for analyzing the movement of the subject based on the observation result obtained by the observation means;
Predicting means for predicting the photographing timing at which the subject can be photographed under a desired photographing condition based on the analysis result by the analyzing means;
Photographing control means for performing photographing processing of the image of the subject captured by the imaging means at the photographing timing predicted by the prediction means ;
The photographing control means includes
Based on the analysis result obtained by the analysis means, an accuracy estimation means for estimating the prediction accuracy related to the imaging timing obtained by the prediction means;
A timing setting unit configured to set at least one shooting timing candidate at a predetermined time including the shooting timing based on the prediction accuracy obtained by the accuracy estimating unit and to perform shooting processing;
An imaging apparatus characterized by that . The imaging device according to claim 1,
Extraction means for extracting at least one image data based on image data taken at least at one shooting timing candidate set by the timing setting means and a determination condition related to the desired shooting condition An imaging apparatus characterized by the above. An observation means for observing at least a change in the position of the subject image captured by the imaging means;
Analysis means for analyzing the movement of the subject based on the observation result obtained by the observation means;
Predicting means for predicting the photographing timing at which the subject can be photographed under a desired photographing condition based on the analysis result by the analyzing means;
Photographing control means for performing photographing processing of the image of the subject captured by the imaging means at the photographing timing predicted by the prediction means;
The observation means includes
Face extraction means for extracting image data representing the face of the subject for at least one subject image captured by the imaging means;
Analyzing the image data extracted by the face extraction means, determining the orientation of the face of the subject, and including direction determination means for outputting the determination result as a part of the observation result,
The analysis means includes
Feature extraction means for extracting a feature of movement relating to the face direction of the subject based on a determination result relating to the face orientation of the subject included in the observation result obtained by the observation means, and outputting the feature as a part of the analysis result; Prepared,
The prediction means includes
A timing that is predicted based on the feature of the motion extracted by the feature extraction unit and that satisfies the determination condition related to the shooting condition of the face direction of the subject, and a determination condition that the position of the subject is related to the shooting condition. An imaging apparatus, wherein an imaging timing is determined based on a timing expected to be satisfied . The imaging device according to claim 3.
  The prediction means prioritizes either the position of the subject or the orientation of the face of the subject according to the set scene and determines the shooting timing.
  An imaging apparatus characterized by that. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 3 and 4,
  When the change in the position of the subject is smaller than a predetermined threshold, the predicting unit sets a timing at which the face orientation of the subject is predicted to satisfy a determination condition related to the shooting condition as a shooting timing.
  An imaging apparatus characterized by that. Based on the change in the position and size of the subject image captured by the imaging means, observe the movement of the subject ,
Based on the observation results obtained by the observation procedure, analyze the movement of the subject ,
Based on the analysis result of the analysis procedure, predict the shooting timing at which the subject can be shot under desired shooting conditions ,
Performing a photographing process of the image of the subject captured by the imaging means at the photographing timing predicted by the prediction procedure ;
When performing the shooting,
Based on the analysis result obtained by the analysis, estimate the prediction accuracy related to the predicted shooting timing,
Based on the prediction accuracy obtained by the estimation, at least one shooting timing candidate is set for a predetermined time including the shooting timing, and the shooting process is executed.
An imaging program that causes a computer to execute processing . Based on the change in the position and size of the subject image captured by the imaging means, observe the movement of the subject,
Based on the obtained observation results, analyze the movement of the subject,
Based on the analysis result of the movement of the subject, predict the shooting timing at which the subject can be shot under desired shooting conditions,
Performing a photographing process of the image of the subject captured by the imaging means at the predicted photographing timing;
When observing the movement of the subject,
For at least one subject image captured by the imaging means, extract image data representing the subject's face,
Analyzing the extracted image data, determining the orientation of the face of the subject, outputting the determination result as a part of the observation result,
When analyzing the movement of the subject,
Based on the determination result related to the orientation of the face of the subject included in the observation result, the feature of the motion related to the orientation of the face of the subject is extracted and output as a part of the analysis result,
When predicting the shooting timing,
A timing that is predicted based on the extracted feature of the motion related to the orientation of the face of the subject, a timing that satisfies a judgment condition relating to the shooting condition, and a determination that the position of the subject is related to the shooting condition The shooting timing is determined based on the timing that is expected to satisfy the conditions.
An imaging program that causes a computer to execute processing .

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