Apparatus and methods are provided for obtaining high dynamic range images using a low dynamic range image sensor. The scene is exposed to the image sensor in a spatially varying manner. A variable-transmittance mask, which is interposed between the scene and the image sensor, imposes a spatially varying attenuation on the scene light incident on the image sensor. The mask includes light transmitting cells whose transmittance is controlled by application of suitable control signals. The mask is configured to generate a spatially varying light attenuation pattern across the image sensor. The image frame sensed by the image sensor is normalized with respect to the spatially varying light attenuation pattern. The normalized image data can be interpolated to account for image sensor pixels that are either under or over exposed to enhance the dynamic range of the image sensor.