1. An image processing apparatus for generating a wide dynamic range image by processing a plurality of images photographed under different exposure conditions, the apparatus comprising: segmenting circuitry operable to segment each of the plurality of images into properly exposed areas and improperly exposed areas in accordance with a predetermined image signal level; image correcting circuitry to correct a gradation of the properly exposed areas of each image segmented by the segmenting circuitry; and an image synthesizer to combine the images corrected by the image correcting circuitry into a single wide dynamic range image.