Photography helps us capture memories; it allows us to unleash our creativity. Even the most mundane subject can become beautiful from the right angle. If this is what photography does for us, what makes the difference between a pro and an amateur?

For the most part the difference can be summed up in one word: composition. Composition is the way in which a shot is made as well as the subject of the photograph. Composition almost wholly determines the popularity and influence of a photograph.

A great photograph is a work of art; it evokes an emotion from the viewer. The way you portray a scene, the composition, is the way a viewer will experience the scene.

To create a beautiful work of art in a photograph, it helps to have a plan, some emotion, or impact that you want the picture to have. This will affect the way you shoot the scene as well as the way viewers will eventually experience it. Share your emotions with your viewers through your photograph.

Professional photographers successfully draw on feelings and memories that are common to everyone. Scenes representing childhood, lost innocence, or connection with nature grab the attention of viewers, reminding them of their own experiences. Using unique scenes to pull on common emotions allows a photographer to attract a wide variety of people who respond powerfully to the photographs.

For a truly wonderful photograph, you must also consider the way the parts interrelate with the whole that you are trying to create. Proximity to the foreground often determines what is considered the most important part of the photograph.

In addition, the angle from which the photograph is taken can greatly influence the viewer's understanding and emotional reaction. A normal, everyday item shot from a new angle can totally readjust a viewer's paradigm. Also, combining different textures enhances the overall effect and interest of a photograph.

True photography is not a point-and-shoot kind of thing. Thought and care must be taken with each photograph, and the viewer's perspective is often the most important consideration.

Photography is like poetry; both the subject and the form determine the effect on viewers. As you search to take the great photographs of your life, remember that your job is to make viewers think, to help them see something from a new perspective.

As a studio photographer, Margaret Byrkit has made a study of topics related to photography. She is contributing writer of articles for FYN Photography a premier resource on-line for information on photography. Find additional articles by Margaret at For Camera and FD Electronics