Dreamy look to photos

[arnica]

Hi All,

I just wanted to ask how to achieve photos similar to the one shown in the following YT video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lNhuRyXfCY

How did the photographer get the blown out background and at the same time get the high contract sticks in the foreground

Here's another photo with similar effect: http://res.cloudinary.com/broadside/...nrise_Ovar.jpg

Is it because of the mist filters used?