Using the Contrast
At times a picture may be correctly in focus, but depending on the light conditions when shooting it, the picture may have an indistinct look or may be lacking in detail. Adjusting the contrast is one way to deal with this, in camera models that feature this function.

Compensating the contrast to get more detailed pictures
Some camera models feature the [CONTRAST] compensation function. Compensating towards the [+] will enhance the difference between lights and shadows, creating a more nuanced picture. However, be careful not to compensate too much or intermediate levels of brightness may be diminished.
[CONTRAST] is a function that adjusts the differentiation between light and dark in the picture. Compensating the contrast towards [+] will make the differences more marked, while compensating towards [-] will result in a flatter picture. With pictures of street scenes and buildings, compensating towards [+] will give more powerful pictures. With portraits of ladies, compensating towards [-] will reduce shadows and result in a softer picture overall.

Compare the effects of different values of contrast compensation