In terms of composition, when we begin to ask basic questions like: "where should I place the subject in my frame?" and "what should I keep in the frame / what should I crop out?", then aren't we really just asking "what do I want to bring attention to - and how can I best achieve that?"
National Geographic Portrait Photographer Oded Wagenstein articulated well in his book “Stories and Faces” when he wrote about 'using frames within the environment to highlight the hero'.
Since returning from my recent trip overseas, I've spent a great deal of time choosing my favourite photos. In doing so, I've noticed the photos I appreciate the most are the ones where I've been able to creatively answer those questions
In the photo below (shot at 1/30s), I held down the shutter to burst-fire, and got lucky that the bicycle-rickshaw was able to highlight my heroes (the workers in the shop).

Our eye can't help but be drawn toward the subject - and yet the environment (in this case the rickshaw), also provides context and speaks to the feeling of being amidst the chaotic traffic of the Historic French Quarter in Hanoi, Vietnam.
In this next image, the environment (drying clothes), act first to highlight my 'hero' in the middle, but also to remove any distractions from a man who is in a pose that communicates a somber, reflective mood.

Below I use the curves of the surrounding architecture which resemble that of the Sikh temple to outline it.





Sometimes we get lucky, and our heroes highlight themselves for us. Well, at least one of them.



