The intermittency effect occurs when several short, separate exposures do not produce the same photographic result as a single continuous exposure of the same total duration. This is due to the way light interacts with the photographic medium during each discrete exposure, which can affect contrast, density, and tonal rendering.
Understanding the intermittency effect is important for photographers working with flash sequences, stroboscopic lighting, or multiple exposures. By accounting for this effect, photographers can achieve more accurate exposure results and maintain consistent image quality when combining multiple exposures or using specialized lighting techniques.