1. A method for automatic exposure control at a digital camera device, the method comprising: in response to user input requesting capture of a digital image at a digital camera device, capturing image data on an image sensor, said image data including values of brightness of pixels of said image sensor; profiling distribution of said values of brightness; generating at least one initial exposure setting for capture of said digital image, said at least one initial exposure setting based upon scaling distribution of said values of brightness towards the midpoint of a pre-selected interval; evaluating said image data to determine whether areas of relative brightness are present; and generating at least one final exposure setting by scaling said at least one initial exposure setting based upon whether areas of relative brightness are determined to be present.