I prefer software that allows you to create what you want to create rather than what it wants to create. That is why I use the following:

Aobe Photoshop CS3. This is the absolute standard of photo editing and digital imaging software. It is both very powerful and reasonably easy to learn and use.

Studio Artist. This is a Mac only application that is heads and tails above the rest. It has very powerful tools for digital painting. My personal favorite.

Adobe Dreamweaver CS3. The standard web authoring tool. It is the software that built this site.

Maya. The worlds best 3D modeling and animation package. Extremely powerful but with a steep learning curve.

Bryce. A simple 3D modeling and animation package that even grown ups can use. It was used to create most of the 3D renderings for this site.