1. A method of processing a hazy image including at least some haze effects, the method comprising: determining minimum intensity dark channels of each local patch of the hazy image establishing corresponding dark channel priors of each of the local patches; determining transmissions associated with each of the local patches using the corresponding dark channel priors, the corresponding minimum intensity dark channels, and an atmospheric light associated with the hazy image; recovering scene irradiances of the local patches using the corresponding dark channel priors, the corresponding determined transmissions, and the atmospheric light wherein the method is implemented on a processor and removes the haze effects from the hazy image to produce a de-hazed image; and outputting the de-hazed image.