Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium

An image processing method of generating an HDR image by using a plurality of images obtained by capturing images of the same scene under different exposure conditions, the method comprising:

• acquiring a first image, a second image, a third image, and a fourth image, the first image and the second image being obtained by capturing images of the same scene under different exposure conditions, the third image and the fourth image being captured after the first image and the second image are captured, the third image being obtained by capturing an image of the scene under the same exposure condition as the first image, and the fourth image being obtained by capturing an image of the scene under the same exposure condition as the second image;
• and
• generating a first HDR image by performing HDR combination processing using the first image and the second image and to generate a second HDR image by performing the HDR combination processing using the third image and the fourth image,
• wherein the second HDR image is generated, based on the first HDR image, such that the second HDR image has higher contrast than the first HDR image.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as an image processing apparatus that generates an HDR image by using a plurality of images obtained by capturing images of the same under different exposure conditions, the image processing apparatus comprising:

• an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first image, a second image, a third image, and a fourth image, the first image and the second image being obtained by capturing images of the same scene under different exposure conditions, the third image and the fourth image being captured after the first image and the second image are captured, the third image being obtained by capturing an image of the scene under the same exposure condition as the first image, and the fourth image being obtained by capturing an image of the scene under the same exposure condition as the second image;
• and
• a combination unit configured to generate a first HDR image by performing HDR combination processing using the first image and the second image and to generate a second HDR image by performing the HDR combination processing using the third image and the fourth image,
• wherein the combination unit generates, based on the first HDR image, the second HDR image such that the second HDR image has higher contrast than the first HDR image.