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 high dynamic range (HDR) image of the scene.