A method and apparatus for processing image data is described, comprising acquiring a frame of image data and compressing the dynamic range of the frame of image data using a dynamic range compression (DRC) algorithm that utilizes down-sampling, median filtering, and up-sampling. The DRC algorithm comprises down-sampling a frame of image data comprising a first array of pixels to generate a second array of pixels, applying a first median filter to the second array of pixels to generate a blurred array of pixels, up-sampling the blurred array of pixels, and removing at least a portion of low-frequency gradient data generated by previous steps from the frame of image data.