What is most important; subject, quality of light or composition?

Answer 1

IMO it often depends on exactly what you are trying to achieve.

If you photograph a scene in the early morning the light will be different than if you photograph it at mid-afternoon.

If you have a perfect mirror image reflection the line between lake and shore might be best placed dead center in the photo.

If you photograph a scene on an overcast day your result will be different than on a clear day.

If your subject has really pretty eyes you might want a closeup with them centered.

A brightly painted door might be your main subject and then you'd want it centered, not in its usual 1/3 of the frame.

All 3 elements are important.

Yet we should always remember what Robert Capa said:

"I'd rather have a strong image that is technically bad than vice versa."

"If your pictures aren't good enough you aren't close enough."

Answer 2

subject/ content is always the most important aspect of the artwork. Composition and lighting kind of go together. they are important also, but conent rules above all. Even if the piece of art has quality light and composition, if it is lacking content or an interesting subject what does it matter? The artwork means nothing.

Answer 3

Hmmm...I'm not sure how to separate the 3, a subject without good composition is dull, good composition without good lighting is a waste and good lighting with no subject is pointless. If I were forced to pick only one I suppose photography in is most basic form is about capturing light.

Edit: Good or unusual lighting can make an otherwise benign subject interesting.

Answer 4

Subject.

Answer 5

In the reverse order for me IF i had to choose.
Composition is really important, the light can be adjusted in digital edit and the subject is tertiary IN SOME CASES
OK - here's an example, where those values are in that precise order:
http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx?ID=616541
To my mind, the composition is THE aspect that decides it. The light ... it's been edited. The subject - you decide.

Answer 6

They are all aspects of a good shot.

Of course, those things are all subjective, so the amount each brings to a specific shot, can vary.

Answer 7

Depends.

Some of the most valuable photographs that we have are captured from a TV screen or scanned from a Polaroid taken by a rank amateur! The quality of light and composition were out of my hands, but the subject matter was irreplaceable. My examples: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/534715990/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1569934571/

Sometimes the quality of light IS the subject.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1305139426/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/2084567023/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1459000809/

I don't have any great examples where composition is king, but how about two different views of the same subject showing how composition changes things.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1503457520/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1503449020/

Three pictures of the same subject, but I think one of your elements dominates each one:
Subject: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1466066261/
Composition: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1466913536/
Quality of light: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/1466922266/