A method for performing high dynamic range optical image detection of a scene using optical devices comprising a 2D Spatial Light Modulator Device, SLM, a 2-D photo detector array, PDA, a point detector, a first lens system and a second lens system, wherein the placement of the optical devices uses the Scheimpflug principle, the method comprising: imaging incident light from a scene onto an object plane of the 2D Spatial Light Modulator Device, SLM, wherein the SLM comprises a Digital Micromirror Device, DMD; the method characterised by the steps of: imaging with the first lens system light from the object plane of the DMD onto the 2-D photo detector array using the Scheimpflug principle; determining from the image signal produced by the 2-D photo detector array (PD 1) the locations of pixels in the object plane in a first brightness range; imaging with the second lens system light from the object plane of the DMD to focus onto the point detector using the Scheimpflug principle; detecting by the point detector only optical irradiance values of the pixels in the first brightness range reflected from the object plane of the DMD to produce a first detected image; detecting by the 2-D photo detector array optical irradiance values of pixels in a second brightness range reflected from the object plane of the DMD to produce a second detected image wherein the first brightness range is higher than the second brightness range; and generating a high dynamic range optical irradiance map of the scene by combining the first detected image and the second detected image into a single image; wherein the step of determining the locations of the pixels in the object plane of higher brightness in the first brightness range comprises: comparing the irradiance value of each pixel in the object plane to a predetermined threshold irradiance value; and determining that a pixel is of higher brightness if its irradiance value is higher than the threshold irradiance value, wherein the pixels of lower brightness in the second brightness range correspond to the pixels in the object plane which are determined to have an irradiance value equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold irradiance value. imaging incident light from a scene onto an object plane of the 2D Spatial Light Modulator Device, SLM, wherein the SLM comprises a Digital Micromirror Device, DMD; the method characterised by the steps of: imaging with the first lens system light from the object plane of the DMD onto the 2-D photo detector array using the Scheimpflug principle; determining from the image signal produced by the 2-D photo detector array (PD 1) the locations of pixels in the object plane in a first brightness range; imaging with the second lens system light from the object plane of the DMD to focus onto the point detector using the Scheimpflug principle; detecting by the point detector only optical irradiance values of the pixels in the first brightness range reflected from the object plane of the DMD to produce a first detected image; detecting by the 2-D photo detector array optical irradiance values of pixels in a second brightness range reflected from the object plane of the DMD to produce a second detected image wherein the first brightness range is higher than the second brightness range; and generating a high dynamic range optical irradiance map of the scene by combining the first detected image and the second detected image into a single image; wherein the step of determining the locations of the pixels in the object plane of higher brightness in the first brightness range comprises: imaging with the first lens system light from the object plane of the DMD onto the 2-D photo detector array using the Scheimpflug principle; determining from the image signal produced by the 2-D photo detector array (PD 1) the locations of pixels in the object plane in a first brightness range; imaging with the second lens system light from the object plane of the DMD to focus onto the point detector using the Scheimpflug principle; detecting by the point detector only optical irradiance values of the pixels in the first brightness range reflected from the object plane of the DMD to produce a first detected image; detecting by the 2-D photo detector array optical irradiance values of pixels in a second brightness range reflected from the object plane of the DMD to produce a second detected image wherein the first brightness range is higher than the second brightness range; and generating a high dynamic range optical irradiance map of the scene by combining the first detected image and the second detected image into a single image; wherein the step of determining the locations of the pixels in the object plane of higher brightness in the first brightness range comprises: comparing the irradiance value of each pixel in the object plane to a predetermined threshold irradiance value; and determining that a pixel is of higher brightness if its irradiance value is higher than the threshold irradiance value, wherein the pixels of lower brightness in the second brightness range correspond to the pixels in the object plane which are determined to have an irradiance value equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold irradiance value.