My favorite book on the subject is Michael Freeman's 'The Photographers Eye: A Graphic Guide. In very simple terms, Freeman lists three essential and interconnected sets of skills for successful photography - Technical, Visual and Conceptual. To paraphrase Freeman a bit:

'Conceptual' is about what you want the photograph to say. What is the subject, the story, the emotion, the mood you are trying to convey, eg excitement, tranquility, awe, romance or a simple record of an event.

'Visual' is about how the elements of the image are arranged to express the concept. In other words how the elements are composed. It can include framing, format, balance, color, light/shade, leading lines, proportion, perspective, placement of the main subject etc etc. The 'Rule of Thirds' is probably the best known example of these techniques, but Freeman's book is full of others. Freeman's book includes wonderful simplified 'cartoons' or graphics to illustrate how these devices work in his photos.

'Technical' is about the camera and how it is handled. It can cover topics such as focus, exposure, aperture, focal length, ISO etc. The well rounded photographer may use these controls or equipment choices to create or eliminate depth of field, motion blur, bokeh, vignette, starbursts etc etc and incorporate them as elements of the 'visual' to express or reinforce the 'conceptual'. Sharpness, contrast, color temperture etc fall under 'technical'. These topics are discussed most here on UHH because they are qualities that are easily understood and measurable and directly related to 'gear'. (Let's face of it - many of us are gearhead 'camerographers' to some extent.)

I have often suggested that beginners start with exploring the principles of composition ie the Visual before getting bogged down in Technicals like the 'exposure triangle'. Every modern photo device does an excellent job of exposure, focus etc on Auto. The exposure triangle can wait until the beginner develops a sense of the Visual and wants to expand their vocabulary.

I think 'content' is the final image. How was the technical used to create the visual that tells the story - assuming the photographer actually conceived a story to tell. Too often we don't.

Composition is mentioned quite often in UHH topics. Usually it refers to the arrangement of the main visual elements within the image. But is the word frequently misused?

Many posters, when discussing a photo, will mention sharpness, contrast, color, etc. Composition gets highlighted, often with the implication that it is the most important element of a good photo. Usually absent in these discussions is photographic content.

Do some folks confuse "composition" with "content"?

Composition is mentioned quite often in UHH topics. Usually it refers to the arrangement of the main visual elements within the image. But is the word frequently misused?

Many posters, when discussing a photo, will mention sharpness, contrast, color, etc. Composition gets highlighted, often with the implication that it is the most important element of a good photo. Usually absent in these discussions is photographic content.

Do some folks confuse "composition" with "content"?

Composition is mentioned quite often in UHH topics. Usually it refers to the arrangement of the main visual elements within the image. But is the word frequently misused?

Many posters, when discussing a photo, will mention sharpness, contrast, color, etc. Composition gets highlighted, often with the implication that it is the most important element of a good photo. Usually absent in these discussions is photographic content.

Do some folks confuse "composition" with "content"?

In that article, there are nine composition techniques shown. Rule of Thirds is just one. The one above center eye is "fill the frame" and there is the "symmetry" example also.

Some thoughtful conversation is found in the recent "Rule of Thirds" topic on UHH. I like the proposition that one must learn how, when and why to use the so-called "rules" in order to effectively break them. Doing something contrary to proven successful techniques without knowing why rarely results in success