asylum1972 Loc: Hilton Head Island, SC

Does anyone know how to correct blown-out windows in PSE10?? The first two photos are what I'd like to achieve. The third was my attempt.

What am I missing??

What I'm trying to achieve


What I'm trying to achieve


My attempt

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

I am not aware of any technique in either Elements or CS that will achieve your desired results with a single shot and burning and dodging.

My recommendation would be to use HDR technique directly (as in one of the software packages) or some type of "home made" HDR by taking two or more shots using a tripod, superimposing them and playing with partial erasure. A third option would be to open your original photo in camera raw, store it multiple times at +0.5ev, -0.5ev and -1.0ev exposure and putting those saved images into an HDR processor. (Maybe more shots on the negative side - go down to the point where you like the look outside the window and then go one step further).

I suspect that you don't want those warm colors in the bedroom to be as intense as shown. If that is the case, I would correct those first.

asylum1972 Loc: Hilton Head Island, SC

I actually did bracket 0, -1 and +1 on a tripod and ran it through HDR software. I thought there could be a little more I could do in PSE10 to recover what is beyond the windows. (and this Realtor wants everything super luminous and glowing. Not my taste, but he's willing to pay me for it).

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Two things: 1) the contrast range between the windows and the interior of the room is MUCH larger than 1 stop. So you need to meter the light coming in and if doing HDR you need to cover all the light bases. 2) Notice the weather conditions in the images you posted as examples - both were shot on over cast / cloudy days - what kind of day was yours shot on?

3) no offense but I find it kind of confusing that you are marketing yourself as a professional photographer - doing interior architectural shots which in and of themselves requires attention to detail and an understanding of how to light an interior - and how to work with light in general - might I suggest you take some classes.......

asylum1972 Loc: Hilton Head Island, SC

No offense taken, but what makes you think I'm MARKETING myself as a professional?? An acqaintance approached me after seeing some of my other work, and I see this as a challenge and opportunity to learn something new. I certainly will not allow anything to go into print ad or online that is nothing short of professional quality. If I can't achieve it, then it doesn't happen. I came here to learn some techniques, not have to explain my scenario.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Opps! Your right. My mistake. I apologize. I think I musta just come from the chit chat section and all my bleeding heart blood was in a boil but no excuse. I am sorry.

asylum1972 Loc: Hilton Head Island, SC

Here is another attempt (this time my house, not a $3M Condo lol) I used a combination of bracketed shots, metering the exposure off the windows, (thus underexposing the interior) and bounced the flash off the ceiling for the first shot only.

My music room...

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I think you are on the right track. I would suggest this: a softbox, if you have access to one (as large as possible and bounced off the ceiling-- or a cheap alternative: an umbrella with strobe (reflective-- not white). and then shoot a 7 shot for combining using an HDR program. Balancing indoor and outdoor lighting is tricky. In the "old days" before digital video, we used to gel the windows to balance the lighting. The diff was this: Our goal was balanced lighting not an outdoor scene combined with an indoor scene.. GL

mdeman Loc: Damascus, Maryland

Can you post the original of your attempt (before correction) so I can see what you are working with?

Wendy2 Loc: California

Layers and masking might help, but would have to see the original to determine that. Could you please post the original and be sure to check the little box.

I am a Realtor and I also photograph properties. It can be challenging when there is a lot of light coming through the windows!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

This is where HDR comes in handy. Expose for the outdoor light and bracket your shots.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

You should have used 0, -2 and +2 and made sure to check the outdoor exposure for detail.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

For a more even light pattern that feels like ambient and/or window light, use umbrellas or softboxes. Flash bounced off a ceiling often looks like a flash because of the falloff.

If the windows have an interesting view (selling point) bring up the flash exposure to even the look. Otherwise, don't emphasize the view. Here are a few examples I shot for my wife's interior design portfolio.

In the kitchen/dining shot, the window view was only distracting, so dialed the blinds down while allowing light to come in. Umbrella monolight camera left for diffused lighting, speedlite in softbox behind the column to separate the cabinets and throw light on the custom stove hood.

Bar of restaurant is HDR, processed in Photomatix. The pendant shades and mural were my photos I PS5 processed for the project.

The dark cabinets and white counters/appliances contrast is the main focus here, but the view is evident without being distracting. Large umbrellas camera right and left. I also put magenta gels on the undercabinet flourescents to color correct in camera.

All photos have all pertinent lighting fixtures turned on to add life to the shot. Dimmers on lighting is helpful, since dimmed down lighting doesn't blow out, but still looks bright. Not much worse than an interior that is dark and gloomy if you are trying to sell living there.

As you attempted in your condo shot, speedlights and umbrellas or softboxes in HDR can make parts of an interior sparkle better and faster than post work.

Umbrella camera left, softbox behind column


hdr 3 exposures, 2 stops over and under


single exposure pp in PS

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Sorry about the pic quality, they are much darker and less saturated on this post than the files are actually.

Wendy2 Loc: California

To keep your saturation, make sure they are in sRGB or if you have photoshop, go to file, save for web.