1. An image acquisition method operable in a hand held image acquisition device with a camera comprising: a) obtaining a first image of a scene with the camera at a nominal exposure level; b) determining a number of relatively bright pixels within said first image; c) determining a number of relatively dark pixels within said first image; d) determining based on said number of relatively bright pixels a negative exposure adjustment; e) determining based on said number of relatively dark pixels a positive exposure adjustment; and f) acquiring respective images at said nominal exposure level, with said negative exposure adjustment and with said positive exposure adjustment as component images for a high dynamic range (HDR) image of the scene, wherein: said determining said negative exposure adjustment further comprises: acquiring a second image of said scene with a negative exposure adjustment based on the number of relatively bright pixels within said first image; determining a second number of relatively bright pixels with said second image; and further adjusting said negative exposure adjustment as a function of the second number of relatively bright pixels; or said determining said positive exposure adjustment further comprises: acquiring a third image of said scene with a positive exposure adjustment based on the number of relatively dark pixels within said first image; determining a third number of relatively dark pixels with said third image; and further adjusting said positive exposure adjustment as a function of the third number of relatively dark pixels.