Generating static images with an event camera

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an image processing device with a processor and non-transitory memory. The method includes triggering light emission, over a first emission duration, having a characterizing intensity as a function of time. The method further includes obtaining respective pixel events, from an event camera, corresponding to reflections of the light emission during the first emission duration, each respective pixel event corresponding to a breach of a respective comparator threshold indicative of a brightness level, each respective pixel event characterized by a respective electrical threshold value and a timestamp at which the respective electrical threshold value was breached. The method also includes generating a static image by determining a plurality of luminance estimation values from the respective pixel events, wherein the plurality of luminance estimation values respectively correspond to an amount of reflected light received by portions of the event camera.