How to correct white-out digital photos

[joecmaclean]

Photographs at volcano in Hawaii are all whited-out - something was wrong with the camera setting. Is there anyway to correct with Elements or is the source data/photo beyond repair?

[MikeH]

Hi Joe,

Welcome to the forums

This depends whether the highlights have been burnt out, if so it may be beyond repair.

If just part of the photo is overexposed you could use the Shadows / Highlights command (under Enhance > Adjust Lighting > Shadows / Highlights), maybe Levels selectively or the Burn tool.

If you upload the picture at www.pixentral.com we may be able to advise you better whether it can be fixed and if so how...

Mike

[clemsonjim]

Add a layer and then change mode to multiply will sometimes help certain pics.

[Wendy]

Hi there,

I usually use the way that Jim suggested ... sometimes you need to do it several times. If other parts of the image become too dark then just erase part of the new layers

Wendy