I don't know the technique...

used2jeep

...that I am trying to describe but it makes a picture look surreal. I remember seeing/reading something about 3 different shots and something about 'raw'. I think one of the examples was of a desert photo with a canyon road.

That is the thing that I would like to learn how to do...but before I can learn how to do it I need to know what it is called. :scratch

Can anyone help me out?

Eric&Susan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

Also many people use this program to achieve the HDR look:

http://www.hdrsoft.com/

Eric

gluwater

Exposure bracketing or HDR possibly?

Glenn NK

"Surreal" seems to have a wide range of interpretations, (by definition, something above or beyond reality, or something dreamlike); it's a rather nebulous description that would be difficult to quantify without an example.

There are many techniques in PS that will produce surreal images; "filters" in addition to layering and masking techniques are likely candidates.

idleberry

HDR.

I liked it, for a bit, but I'm a fan of it being used sparingly, because if it's overcooked, it just looks horrible (to me). Kinda like those soft focus "vaseline round the edge" type piccies of the 80s.

Anyway. Photoshop is good, but even better is photomatix pro.

http://www.hdrsoft.com/

Slinky0390

HDR can be quite pleasing to the eyes if done to add depth to the picture. When people start to blow out all the exposure ranges, it looses it value (at least to me) i'd rather see a regular photo with no processing than one with overkill HDR.