Does a photo need to tell a story? The obvious answer is “no it does not need to, but it does so anyway".

What I find interesting about the posted images is that they raise the equally important question “does a photographer have to be an artist first?” My answer to that is: not necessarily, it depends entirely on what kind of photographer he/she is.

Visual art always has to be created, whereas pushing the release button on a camera does not require that. What the camera does is give you the image of a subject that is already there for the taking. Art comes into play when the subject has to be artfully created and staged beforehand. A photographic image of that subject can then be interpreted as to what the artist was thinking or the statement he/she intended to make, similar to musing about what the poet had in mind when reading his poetry.

I realize this could be fodder for endless debating that I do not wish to pursue at length. All I want to say is that the OP managed to skillfully combine art and photography. . . .

I just looked at my reply. Nowhere do I see any words from my computer saying, subject is everything. I wonder where you get that notion when I never said it.

Actually my friend I was somewhat AGREEING with you in that poor focus and so on makes a photo not so hot no matter the subject. How did you miss that?

Is it possible you are taking my opinions, completely different from yours in The Attic and transferring them to actual photography? I don't know about you but most of us here are able to separate political opinion from our opinions regarding photography and every other subject discussed by mankind. Just the other day I expressed an opinion of excellence for a photograph taken by one of the most vile and crude people ever to grace The Attic. But my opinion of photographs taken are completely different. Her photos or at least this one was excellent.

If that is your problem then you really do have a problem. Nothing I or anyone other than a qualified psychiatrist can help you.

Dennis

It's psychological! My day job is in commercial photography and corporate portraiture. The clients want everything to look pristine, smooth, elegant, new, appetizing/yummy, perfect, beautiful! Ahhhhhhhhhugh #**%#%^&^**... it's enough to drive a photographer crazy! So...in my off-duty photography time, it's off to the junkyards, second-hand stores, demolition sites, and yes- sometimes an enticing garbage can or dumpster in search of "props"!

Some photographers take on what I like to call a "false ethic"...every photograph must make a profound statement, a photojournalistic record of a historical event, every image must be "relevant", the shutter must be released at the "decisive moment"...! OK- all good but not all the time. A pile of rusty junk is a static subject- it ain't gonna run away. move around, or escape- you can take all day to arrange it and you can release the shutter any time you feel like it!

Talk about "still-life"- this stuff is dead, buried, and dug up! If there is a creative or artistic element or challenge it is to render texture, creat dimensionality, practice composition, and convincing you significant other to allow you to bring this stuff into your home and actually store it there.

I am big-time into slow oxidation (rust), dilapidated wood, parts of old farming implements, and corroded car parts- those are some of my favorites.

Denoise- my foot! Grain, noise adds to the texture! Topaz textures are cool- all little gunge never hurts!

Just remember- wash your hands and don't touch your face, especially before you disinfect some of this stuff.

What with the lockdown, isolation, quarantine, etc. now is the time to check out the cellar, attic, barn, or messy closet and find some stuff and go to it!

Well- it's 8:45- time for me to go into the studio and shoot some fancy jewelry:sm25.

Why was photography invented in the first place? Why was the Hubble spacecraft invented? Of course the subject matters. If you happen to see the most vivid, stunningly colorful sunset EVER, do you want to capture it in black and white or for that matter just let it slip on by? You could but what would really be the point? Anyone with a camera is out there to record that one particular moment in time that captures the attention and imagination. Subjects in life, really, hold the key to everything--what car you want, what spouse you want, where you want to go on vacation, what you want to eat, looking in a mirror to see if all that parsley is gone from your teeth or you blew out all the boogers. Subjects are ALL important and EVERYTHING has its own story to tell

IMHO; This all depends on the photographers intent. Why was the photograph taken in the first place? If it was to tell a story or communicate, than that's paramount and composition may be secondary If it's strictly to convey or make a statement or feeling etc. then composition is very important.
I tell my students that the job of the photographer (or any artist) is to keep the viewer interested in their image. If you you look at an image for a few seconds and move on the photographer didn't do a good job. If you spend time looking at a single image, exploring all the subtleties and nuances then the photographer (or artist) did a good job. I believe composition is one vehicle to achieve the latter.