dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Well then it is just a bad photo isn't it?

Dennis

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

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.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Subject matter does not have to be everything in a good photograph. But I believe it does help to make a better photo. It should have SOME importance otherwise why are you photographing it to begin with.

Dennis

Low Budget Dave

I like the shapes in your photos. In this case, the photos do not need to tell any other story. If you posted these on the wall as decorations, they would be better than most.

I would be careful not to use too much color, though. Even ordinary rust can look too bright in the wrong light.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Very, very well done. The hues and textures compliment each other well and the theme of shapes ties it all together. Rich in detail and true wall hangers for that special decor.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Subject matter does not matter, what you do with it does matter.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I heard this story about Joe McNally. Early in his career he ask his editor "How can I make my images more interesting?" The editor replied " Put yourself in front of more interesting subjects."

As for your images...

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

I think interesting images can stand on their own. Photos that tell a story are also interesting ... this is not an either/or; their just different.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

In my opinion a good photographer can make simple subject look good, a great photographer can make a sow's ear into a silk purse, the subject matter is everything.

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

I believe you are referring to objets d'art? If they are interesting, creatively placed and well lit, they will tell a story, and that makes a great photograph, at least IMHO.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Then how can subject be "everything" if a great subject can result in a bad photo?

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Subject matter is important but not everything. Some of us can take almost any object and make a great picture others can take a great object and make a terrible picture. I put myself some place between the two.

Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

Wonderful photographs! I really love these and can see them up on a wall in a pristine hall or room, a doctor's office, an engineering and manufacturing office, and more. I love the colors, the texture, and the composition. For me, they represent a step back in time.

Regarding your question, I think the first consideration is your intent in creating the photograph. However, whatever the intent, not all viewers will see it the same way. I believe that is some cases we could help guide the viewers thoughts by adding titles or captions if we so choose, but left unto itself, a photograph will invariably be interpreted by the viewer from within the viewer's experiences, emotions, and life circumstances at the moment. This, I believe, holds true for just about any form of art. In reflections of my life, I have found photographs, paintings, books, music, etc., that I bought because in some way they touched me in a certain way or spoke me during that moment of my life. Years later, returning to the same, I find the same items perhaps not as appealing or connected with me and I must ponder why they were important to me enough to commit resources---time, money, etc.---to obtaining them. It is only when I look into what was transpiring in my life, my emotional maturity level, and interests that the significance is restored.

Overall, while we may have a specific subject or story we are trying to tell, the viewer may not see the same without captions and titles. Sometimes I will apply titles and captions for this reason, whereas at other times, I leave it to the viewer to interpret, connect, and enjoy through their own world.

Sincerely,

Charles

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Your piles of junk do seem to tell a story and they are done very nicely.

Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

Actually, I think it all depends on the photographers intent. There are photographers, some well known, who intentionally create images that are out of focus, "poorly" lit, "poorly" composed. As I write this response, I cannot help but consider the question that if these are intentional then can it really be said that they are as we initially interpret them. For example, is an intentionally "poorly" composed photograph truly a poorly composed photograph? From the photographer's perspective, there was construct of composition albeit an appearance to quite the opposite. Some of this ventures into creative or abstract art but there are some that do not.