A method for controlling the spectral response of light sensitive semiconductor elements in an array (8) using an electric control signal (Vop) applied to said semiconductor elements. The light sensitive semiconductor elements could be a single photon avalanche diode (81) operating in Geiger mode. An image sensor has at least one light sensitive semiconductor elements and a circuit for applying a control voltage (Vop) to said semiconductor element so as to change its spectral response. Without being limiting, the sensor could be part of a digital camera, video camera, 3D image sensors, scanner, video telephone, autofocus system, medical image acquisition system, etc.