comparing vs contrast

comparing and contrast both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
comparing	Yes	No	No	No
contrast	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, contrast is a hyponym of comparing; that is, contrast is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than comparing:

Other hyponyms of comparing include likening, analogy, collation, confrontation.

comparing (noun)	contrast (noun)
the act of examining resemblances	the act of distinguishing by comparing differences
	the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)
	the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors
	a conceptual separation or distinction
	the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

comparing (verb)	contrast (verb)
	put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
	to show differences when compared; be different