1. A method of enhancing an image, the method comprising: sub-sampling, by a processor, an original image to generate a sub-sampled image having sub-sample pixels; obtaining, by the processor, a maximum intensity for each of the sub-sample pixels; blurring, by the processor, the sub-sampled image to generate an image base layer based upon the maximum intensities of the sub-sample pixels; identifying, by the processor, dark and bright regions within the image base layer; and applying, by the processor, the dark and bright regions to the original image to enhance a contrast of pixels within the original image.