Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and electronic camera

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a brightness computing component for obtaining the degree of brightness of a photographed image based on an image signal obtained with an image-sensing device at the time of photographing with light emitted from a flash;
• a contrast computing component for obtaining contrast of the photographed image from the degree of brightness of the photographed image;
• a determining component for determining an amplification factor of the image signal based on the degree of brightness and the contrast of the photographed image;
• and
• an amplifying component for amplifying the image signal with the amplification factor.

An electronic camera comprising:

• an image-sensing device;
• a flash control component for controlling a flash so as to irradiate a subject of a photograph with auxiliary light when photographing;
• a storing component for storing an image signal obtained with the image-sensing device;
• an amplifying component for amplifying the image signal stored in the storing component;
• a control component for obtaining the degree of brightness of the photographed image, obtaining contrast of the photographed image from the degree of brightness of the photographed image, determining an amplification factor of the image signal based on the degree of brightness and contrast of the photographed image, and performing control of varying the amplification factor of the amplifying component in accordance with the amplification factor;
• and
• a recording component for recording an image onto a recording medium, the image obtained by amplifying the image signal with the amplifying component.