The present disclosure describes an embodiment that provides a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of an endoscope. The instructions include instructions to capture, using an imager in the endoscope, a first plurality of images at a first brightness level while a live video based at least in part on the first plurality of images is displayed, generate, using the processor, a baseline image by averaging or summing the first plurality of images, capture, using the imager, a second plurality of images at a plurality of brightness levels, in which the plurality of brightness levels are different from the first brightness level, and generate, using the processor, a high dynamic range image based at least in part on the baseline image and the second plurality of images, in which the high dynamic range image comprises more unsaturated pixels than the baseline image.