Dynamic range and visual perception

Broadly speaking, the human visual system attempts to discount illumination so it can extract surface shapes and reflectance characteristics, independent of one's surroundings. This elucidates the purpose of vision, to quickly identify and categorize objects so the higher brain can seek opportunities and avoid obstacles and dangers that may be present. Low-level visual processing lies at the very root of survival, and is the product of hundreds of millions of years of animal evolution. It could be said that vision works to circumvent lighting.