To perform image correction according to the features of an input image and output a fine and conspicuous image corresponding to a variety of scenes; an image correcting apparatus detects, from the pixels of the input image, the dark pixels that have the respective pixel values equal to or smaller than a first threshold value. Then, for each dark pixel having the pixel value equal to or smaller than the first threshold value, the image correcting apparatus detects calculates the shading variation between the dark pixel and the corresponding surrounding pixels, calculates a correction amount based on the calculated shading variation, and performs image correction with the calculated correction amount.