These are a combination of a self-darkening welder's mask and the dark glasses so favoured by celebrities.

The lenses would normally be clear or very slightly tinted, but would darken in response to a camera flash.
-- Alx_xlA, Feb 06 2011

Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses http://hitchhikers....ensitive_Sunglasses
Good old Douglas A ... [8th of 7, Feb 06 2011]

More aggressive version http://www.timesonl.../article6841380.ece
Assuming, of course, that it's more than rumor. [mouseposture, Feb 06 2011]

Baked during the cold war http://www.usafals....LTZ Goggles/Cal.htm
Nuclear flash goggles [AntiQuark, Feb 07 2011]

Semi-Baked.

<link>
-- 8th of 7, Feb 06 2011


This is an excellent idea. And by "excellent" I mean "doomed to failure".

LCDs will take a good millisecond to respond, which is roughly the duration of the flash itself. You will therefore be dazzled immediately before being plunged into darkness.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 06 2011


Ah, you've met Peter Mandelson, then ? The Albert Speer of the Brown administration ...
-- 8th of 7, Feb 06 2011


I prefer to say that Peter Mandelson has met me.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 06 2011


We prefer to say, "Peter Mandelson ? Who ?"
-- 8th of 7, Feb 06 2011


//"Peter Mandelson ? Who ?"//

Yes, they've met me too.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 06 2011


//LCDs will take a good millisecond to respond// There might be a way around that problem <link>
-- mouseposture, Feb 06 2011


If some-one could just convince all camera and flash manufacturers to put a left-hand circularly-polarising filter on the front of their flashes, then the 'victims' of paparazzi only need to wear right-hand circularly-polarised glasses, and the problem is solved.
-- neutrinos_shadow, Feb 07 2011



random, halfbakery