A method and system for tone-mapping an image includes determining a tone-curve based on a model of image contrast distortion between the input image and a tone-mapped image and tone-mapping the input image according to the determined tone-curve. Determining the tone curve includes analytically calculating values of the tone-curve that reduce the image contrast distortion within the model of image contrast distortion. A tone-mapping operator includes a noise model generator and a tone-mapping module operable to receive one or more contextual parameters. The tone-mapping module includes an edge-stopping filtering submodule for extracting a base layer and detail layer of the input image, a tone-curve generating submodule and a combining submodule for combining the base layer and detail layer. At least one of the edge-stopping filtering submodule, the tone-curve generating submodule and combining submodule is adjustable based on the contextual parameters.