Want to know the difference between a photographer and someone who happens to take pictures? A photographer makes a photo, and everybody else just takes them. Let me start by saying that I have by no means arrived as a photographer, quite the opposite in fact. I'm simply pointing out that a beautiful photo can be made of an ugly subject if the camera operater has some creativity and skill.
In the same way painters use color, photographers use light. Check out the example I've included of the pears. The pear on the right is a fine photo. It is technically perfect, good exposure, good color, etc, etc. The pear on the right is not fully illumated, has no shadow detail, but it is more interesting. By putting the light off to the side of the pear instead of straight on, a photographer is able to create visual interest. If you hadn't noticed, this is the same pear shot from almost the exact same angle. I "took" the photo on the left, I "made" the photo on the right. So there you have it...
