A photographic flash lamp having a closed, at least partially transparent capsule. A combustible material within an enclosed region of the capsule generates a flash upon ignition. Ignition is provided by a frictionally ignited composition within the enclosed region and an ignitor to frictionally engage with the composition. A frictional ignitor assembly extends between an interior and exterior of the enclosed region and carries one of the composition or ignitor. Movement of an exterior end of the ignitor assembly causes the frictional ignitor and frictionally ignited composition to frictionally engage one another resulting in flash generation. Particularly with a sliding piston arrangement for engaging the ignitor and frictionally ignited composition, ignition can be accomplished with very low cost components such as a spring while at the same time, combustion gases are trapped within the closed envelope.