how to take good photo in bright situation?

i have a IXUS 400.
and i always not satisfied with my photo taken when the background is bright or in very sunny day.
because my photo will become dull or white.
what mode should i use for it ?

i usually use the Manual Mode and prefocus on a bright area so that the camera will meter that bright light and speed the shutter up more so that the pic is not all white washed out.

after i prefocus on a bright spot, then i move the camera and compose the shot how i want it.

These tips might help. If your camera has a manual mode just adjust the ap and shutter to the correct values for a good exposure of your subject. Otherwise, use your cameras "exposure compensator" and tune it down a few stops. If all else fails, your can use a photoshop masking technique to correctly expose your subject while keeping the background correctly exposed.

the 400 has a manual mode but it is VERY limited... cant adjust shutter or aperture at all...

u can adjust the shutter speed but only between 1-15 full seconds...

The difference between your bright background and darker subject is probably more than 5 "stops"...this usually results in some part of your photo being overexposed. Your goal is to narrow that gap to within the 5 stops your camera can handle.

If you have a subject in the foreground, use your fill flash in bright situations...I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but this will at least narrow the gap between the bright background and your (assumed) less bright subject. Your camera will re-meter accordingly. If you can boost your flash to its brightest setting...do so.

If there is no subject in the foreground, learn to meter on what you want to come out and exclude or limit the brightest portion of the shot if it is not needed.

On the capture side, I also recommend learning how to use graduated neutral density filters.

On the post-capture side (photoshop), try resetting the ends of your curve.