A method for processing high dynamic range data from a nonlinear camera includes; generating an input image comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having an initial pixel value, wherein the initial pixel values are generated using a camera transition curve; generating a first lookup table representing a combination of an inverse function and a re-compression function, the first lookup table having input values and output values, wherein each input value is linked to one output value, the inverse function is the inverse of the camera transition curve, the re-compression function is a smooth and continuous function having a slope at each input value which is greater than or equal to a corresponding slope of the camera transition curve, the first lookup table is generated such that the inverse function precedes the re-compression function; and generating a first image by converting the initial pixel values using the first lookup table.