I've done some thought on this and came to the resolution that if I'm practicing and there's a birthday party or a family taking pictures with a flash I won't say anything, since it's practice, it's anybody's house at that time, and it does give the opportunity to practice with distracions.  This past weekend I was bowling an ABT and we had lanes 1-34, with a birthday party on 37-40, (the last two pairs).  These people were taking pictures and our tournament director asked the manager to have them stop.  It came time for us to move to 33-34, and they were still taking pictures.  When I asked the manager of the center to ask them to stop, she said "I've already asked them twice, and they won't stop."  
     I couldn't believe this, are the birthday parties running the bowling centers now?  And how does the manager of the center not have enough authority to make people stop doing something that is causing a distraction with a tournament?  And finally is this not as big of an issue that I'm making it out to be, perhaps not as many other bowlers are bothered by this, but I found myself always looking over to see if they were going to snap a picture before I stepped up, rather than focusing on the shot.  Perhaps it's just another thing I need to work on in my mental game.

Thank goodness, I thought it was just me.  I'm partially upset with the manager for not being more strict with the birthday party, but I'm also disappointed in our tournament director for not going to bat for us, the bowlers.  The reason I went up and talked to the manager about it was I was already pretty much out of a cash position, and was looking out for the people who either had a shot at doing something in the tournament, or maybe had an honor score on the line.  I know I wouldn't want to go up there and take myself out of a rhythm if I was in that spot.  What disappointed me about our tournament director is he kind of let the center off the hook by telling them if they kept the camera away from the lanes it was ok, but I mean really, they're on 36-40, and we're on 33-34, a flash is a flash.

the person(s)who doesn't think the flash of a camera can distract a bowler should ask walter ray williams, jr., his opinion on this subject..............