Analyzing Photographs

I have been reading John Shaw’s Close up in Nature recently. It struck me that I paid less attention to the techniques than I did how an image was composed. When viewing a photograph it seems like you have two options, you like the photograph for its own sake or you analyze it to see if it can be duplicated. I already know that I can’t duplicate someone else’s image, to many variables that are unknown, time of day, of the year, what were the weather conditions just to name a few. It’s not so much the technical parts, what camera, lens F/stop or shutter speed. When I really take the time to look at a photograph I look at it to determine what I like about. Do I like the colors, patterns, texture or the lighting? I look at a photograph to improve my eye and creativity to see what another photographer has seen even if it isn’t the same subject. Does anyone else have a similar perspective?

David
Very well put, I do the same thing. When your first starting out the camera settings etc. are what you need to learn. As you move along the camera settings become more automatic and composition becomes what you love and enjoy about photography. At this stage for me I have realized what I really enjoy shooting the most. My favorites are landscape and especially panoramas. It's not that I don't want that great close up or wildlife shot, beleive me I do. But what images move you the most and how were these created is what I study and learn from in books etc.