AA famously likened a negative to a score and the print to a performance. A little while ago I was reading part of an unfinished manuscript by Philosopher Von Balthazaar on famous Opera composer Richard Wagner and it got me thinking (fair warning: earlier today I was riding a horse out of the round corral and skinnned the top of my nogging 'cause I didn't lean low enough to clear the corral's bow gate) and it occurred to me that Wagner's stylistic elements are similar to what I find makes a successful landscape photograph, something beyond being a visual record.

Predominantly, the elements I'm thinking about are Drama specifically "high" Drama.
I used to watch Classic Arts Showcase on cable late at night when giving my bride a break by doing the late night/early morning feedings when our daughter was a baby.
I hoped by doing this some Culture might be imprinted on poor child in spite of having a father like me.
What impressed me was how orchestral music could add Drama to video images. A seemingly common thing or event takes on an amazing level of importance (such as a melting icicle heralds the Spring, for example) Call it cliche, but in the moment it makes a powerful statement.

Another element is Beauty---musical, visual, and story. Not necessarily grandiose Beauty either---something very humble I find can have enchanting Beauty. Just as a melting icicle might be criticized as a cliche, so to might Beauty be criticized in certain (POMO?) quarters as a lacking---Ugly is interesting when everything else is beautiful goes the argument if I understand it correctly. But then, Ugly architecture is pretty dang ugly and the man on the street is prone to avoid looking it, much less enjoy a photograph of it, unlike more interesting photographs which, more often than not, has a element of Beauty not matter how humble.

Another element is a sense of Time. An Opera that drones on and on isn't enjoyable (to me anyway) but one that exemplifies movement, even a sense of urgency (the melodrama where Oilcan Harry has tied the lovely Nell to the railroad tracks while No.97 is bearing down the line comes to mind.)

This got me to pull down some old books off the shelf and contemplate some classic, successful photos.
And I see it.

From a shooter's view point I'm wondering how this would come together when selecting a subject and composing? Pre-vizualization maybe? Or...?

Have you ever thought about these elements in photography? Or did that bow gate this morning ring my chimes too hard?