An improved stroboscopic system permits higher response speeds in the order of nanoseconds and a richness of control fatures for highlighting different viewing surfaces including pulse flash length control in addition to frequency, color control, light emitting area control and light focussing features for concentration of available light on the viewing field. Thus, new applications such as the viewing the movement of selected portions of the surface of a high frequency piezoelectric responsive crystal structure are now possible. This is achieved by flashing at least one solid state light emitting element that produces light in an emitting area defined by the shape of a light emitting surface activated in response to externally derived synchronization pulses. Thus, when directed upon a field of view on a movable object and relating the synchronization pulses to the movement of the object within that viewing field, the illusion is produced that the moving object in at least a portion of the field of view receiving the emitted light from the solid state element is stationary to the human view, permitting detailed study of surface shapes and dynamic reactions in frequency ranges far above those viewable with prior art strobing methods. Provisions are made for positioning the light flash sources very close to the viewing surface without interference with a visible line of site. One embodiment provides microscopic viewing and photography of the strobed field of view.