Hi ophiuchus, I think what we're trying to say is study light. Every image is composed of light, no matter what subject is in the image. For example, you want to show a silhouette of someone because it would make the shot very dramatic, well the easiest way is to put the sun behind them and expose for the light behind the subject and not for the subject. Knowing how light effects a scene and how to expose for the light to achieve the results you want is what we're talking about. Walk around and study what the light looks like at certain times of day and why it would be most favorable to shoot some subjects under certain types of lighting conditions. Once you learn these "rules" so to speak, break them all. Developing a visual style comes from making mistakes or better yet from doing the things instructors and other photographers say you shouldn't do. But first, learn to recognize how light interplays with its surroundings. Study images you like and try to determine what kind of lighting was used and where the light originates in the picture. These visual exercises will help you learn to see the effects of light on a subject. Shoot under every lighting condition you can. Harsh, midday sun, the warm blow of dusk and dawn, the overcast light on a cloudy day, the light of only a candle etc. etc. Then study those pictures to see how the light reacts in those conditions. Once you start to get a handle on it, keep shooting. Also, a few good books by John Hedgecoe would help too.