In his article “Was It Done With a Lens, or a Brush?”, Ian Austen of The New York Times explores the subject of H.D.R, or high dynamic range photography.
H.D.R is basically a photographic composite of multiple exposures of the same scene. The different exposures are combined using special software to automate the process. This technique results in a final image with a more vivid range of colors, which more accurately represents what the eye sees.
While these techniques not simple, decreasing hardware and software costs are prompting many amateurs to take up H.D.R photography.
To read more, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/03/technology/03basics.html