Ideas on how to better image blown out exposure

[ThePicMan207]

At a huge shoot, one of my photographers (a veteran of course) was apparently paying no attention to his exposure. I have an entire line filled with images like the one here. There does not seem to be any detail in the whites in any channel. I know I can't make them look properly exposed, but any ideas and workflow (CS2) about making them somewhat presentable would be greatly appreciated.

TPM

Link to a higher rez file is here:

http://www.thepicturechute.com/images/blown_leadD.jpg

[Ziaphra]

Was this shot as a jpeg or a raw file?

[ThePicMan207]

Originally Posted by Ziaphra

Was this shot as a jpeg or a raw file?

Changed your question did we? Sorry, I forget "save for web" strips the EXIF. The higher rez is now with EXIF. They were shot as jpgs, if they had been raw, I would not have this problem or at least not as much of it. Guess I learned my lesson there.

TPM

[Ziaphra]

Yeah, I did! Try posting one with the exif data...it may help but not sure.

[ThePicMan207]

Originally Posted by Ziaphra

Yeah, I did! Try posting one with the exif data...it may help but not sure.

I did, the link now points to a different image (same name), you might have to refresh your cache.

[byRo]

I used my "Clipping Detector" and got the image shown.
It's just a curves layer with the 0 and 255 points inverted for each channel.
So where you see black that means you've got full white (255,255,255).

Sorry, but there seems to be only three alternatives:
1) Reshoot
2) Use your artistic skills
3) Run and hide.

Rô

[ThePicMan207]

Originally Posted by byRo

I used my "Clipping Detector" and got the image shown.
It's just a curves layer with the 0 and 255 points inverted for each channel.
So where you see black that means you've got full white (255,255,255).

Sorry, but there seems to be only three alternatives:
1) Reshoot
2) Use your artistic skills
3) Run and hide.

Rô

Yah, I know that they are blown. Can't reshoot, can't run, was hoping for some ideas on #2

thanks!

TPM

[Sanda]

do you have any other photos of the dresses with some detail showing? If so you can manipluate that detail into the blown out areas.

[ThePicMan207]

Originally Posted by Sanda

do you have any other photos of the dresses with some detail showing? If so you can manipluate that detail into the blown out areas.

Good idea, but certain groups went through specific lines. The only pix of those dresses look just like this one.

[cpack]

Hey TPM...

I've had to deal with a few super-blown images for wedding photogs before, and sometimes making them b/w ("sepia", halftone, artsy) can help a bit - especially if the client/bride is on the artsy side.

I ran Parker Big Run B/W, and adjusted layers...then used a 50% gray soft light d/b layer to try to brush something back in...which didn't do much.
The girl's facial skin can be patched first, if needed.

Image 2 is minus the red channel, just to see what would happen.

CP

[ThePicMan207]

Originally Posted by cpack

Hey TPM...

I've had to deal with a few super-blown images for wedding photogs before, and sometimes making them b/w ("sepia", halftone, artsy) can help a bit - especially if the client/bride is on the artsy side.

CP

I tried similar things also, but the problem is that these people have had this same picture taken since they were 7, so I doubt any deviation from color will be acceptable either, but I suppose its worth a shot. I am certain to be beaten over the head as it is.

-TPM