A method of pre-processing video data to detect flashes, comprising: calculating a normalized difference index value for a Luminance component of the video data, wherein the normalized difference index value for the Luminance component is calculated over consecutive pictures i and j using the equation: D Y H i Y, H j Y = P Y − ∑ k = 1 B min H i Y k, H j Y k P Y wherein P Y is the total number of pixels in the luminance plane of a picture in the video data, and B is the bin number of a given histogram; calculating a normalized difference index value for Chrominance [U and V] components of the video data, wherein the normalized difference index value for Chrominance [U and V] components is calculated over consecutive pictures i and j using the equation: D C H i C, H j C = P C − ∑ k = 1 B min H t C k, H j C k P C wherein Pc is the total number of pixels in the chrominance plane of a picture in the video data and B is the bin number of a given histogram; calculating a normalized luminance mean gradient index for the video data, wherein the normalized luminance mean gradient index is calculated using the equation: G t = ∇ M t V max = m t − m t − 1 V max wherein m t is the value mean of a luminance picture at time t and V max is the maximal value of luminance pixels in a picture in the video data; and providing an indication that a flash has been detected when all the following conditions are satisfied: the normalized difference index value for the Luminance component is greater than a first predetermined threshold (T Y); the normalized difference index value for the Chrominance [U and V] components is less than a second predetermined threshold (Tc); and a difference between the normalized difference index value for the Chrominance [U and V] components and the normalized luminance mean gradient index is less than or equal to a third pre-determined threshold (T F). calculating a normalized difference index value for a Luminance component of the video data, wherein the normalized difference index value for the Luminance component is calculated over consecutive pictures i and j using the equation: D Y H i Y, H j Y = P Y − ∑ k = 1 B min H i Y k, H j Y k P Y wherein P Y is the total number of pixels in the luminance plane of a picture in the video data, and B is the bin number of a given histogram; calculating a normalized difference index value for Chrominance [U and V] components of the video data, wherein the normalized difference index value for Chrominance [U and V] components is calculated over consecutive pictures i and j using the equation: D C H i C, H j C = P C − ∑ k = 1 B min H t C k, H j C k P C wherein Pc is the total number of pixels in the chrominance plane of a picture in the video data and B is the bin number of a given histogram; calculating a normalized luminance mean gradient index for the video data, wherein the normalized luminance mean gradient index is calculated using the equation: G t = ∇ M t V max = m t − m t − 1 V max wherein m t is the value mean of a luminance picture at time t and V max is the maximal value of luminance pixels in a picture in the video data; and providing an indication that a flash has been detected when all the following conditions are satisfied: the normalized difference index value for the Luminance component is greater than a first predetermined threshold (T Y); the normalized difference index value for the Chrominance [U and V] components is less than a second predetermined threshold (Tc); and a difference between the normalized difference index value for the Chrominance [U and V] components and the normalized luminance mean gradient index is less than or equal to a third pre-determined threshold (T F). the normalized difference index value for the Luminance component is greater than a first predetermined threshold (T Y); the normalized difference index value for the Chrominance [U and V] components is less than a second predetermined threshold (Tc); and a difference between the normalized difference index value for the Chrominance [U and V] components and the normalized luminance mean gradient index is less than or equal to a third pre-determined threshold (T F).