Yes, that is an HDR "tweak". Photoshop "layering"
This from a photographer friend:
What you do is take several exposures (like bracketing) and then combine them together in photoshop. It allows you to capture the details in the shadows while not blowing out the highlights like the sky and things like that. Of course there are plug ins for PS that also help to give the same type of effect with out taking a ton of shots. It boosts the contrast and shadows.