Yes. Although tone mapping is most commonly discussed with HDR, the underlying idea can also be applied to a single image.

In practical terms, tone mapping means adjusting tonal relationships differently in different parts of the photo so more shadow/highlight detail or local contrast is visible in the final image. That can be used for either:

• a natural result: recovering or emphasizing detail and balancing contrast more realistically
• a stylized result: the exaggerated, surreal “HDR look”

So on non-HDR photos, tone mapping can be useful when you want to:

• bring out local detail
• compress contrast so more of the scene fits a normal display or print
• selectively enhance parts of the image after capture

The main distinction is that HDR usually combines multiple exposures to capture more scene dynamic range, while single-image tone mapping works only with the information already present in one file. That means it can improve presentation, but it cannot create missing detail that was never captured.

In short: tone mapping is not limited to HDR. It’s a general post-processing approach for redistributing tones and local contrast, whether for subtle correction or creative effect.