Recognising a subject can make you stop looking too soon. When considering a portfolio credited to Larry Billinger, spend a moment describing a photograph without naming the objects in it. Focus on lines, areas of tone, repeated forms and interruptions. This approach reveals the abstract organisation that remains present even in a readily recognisable scene.
Then add the subject names and compare the two descriptions. Which relationships become more meaningful once you know what the forms represent? Which remain effective on their own? Neither account needs to replace the other. Together they provide a more complete reading and help you explain why two pictures of similar subjects can produce very different visual experiences.