Originally posted by jcdoss I guess the bottom underlying and harsh question I really want to ask is... Why do you think anyone else wants to see your photos?
I am no longer a 'pro' but as a teacher, I do continue to shoot as much as I can. When I shoot, I start with the assumption that NO ONE wants or cares to see my photos. If I'm going to share or exhibit my images, I select only those images that I think are unique, special, tell a story, bring a new experience/feeling/thought to the viewer's day that is indelible.
Through experience, however, I've found that it's unrealistic to second guess what anyone else wants to see. So now, I selfishly shoot for myself. Sort of a game to improve my high score, or self-improvement, or being engaged with the world and get out of my own ego as much as possible.
Someone once made an analogy that making an image is like having a child. You couldn't have done it by yourself, and once it's "born", it has a life of its own in terms of how people perceive, react, respond, or ignore it.
But in any given day, week, season, decade, or lifetime of shooting, there are millions of choices of what makes an impression on us that we want to capture and remember it. What, how, and why we shoot says as much about who we are, how we feel and think, and reveals to others the environment, life, and culture at a fraction of a second. I use "we" instead of "me" because I don't believe I'm unique in this respect.