1. An apparatus comprising: a bar code decoding module that is configured to decode representations of at least a two dimensional bar code in image data captured by an image reader, the image reader further comprising: a CMOS image sensor array comprising a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array, wherein the CMOS image sensor array is operable, in a global shutter mode, and wherein in the global shutter mode all or substantially all of the pixels in the image sensor array are exposed in the image sensor array in response to an exposure control timing pulse so as to enable the collection of image data in the form of at least a two dimensional bar code; and at least one illumination light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the bar code in response to an illumination control timing pulse, wherein the exposure control timing pulse and the illumination control timing pulse are interdependent.