I was stumbling around today's new people & portraits photos, and I found one particular that seemed interesting. While this guy's photographing was excellent, I saw something more interesting among his devious comments. God knows why he had posted this there himself, but it caught my eye. And this particular thing is the subject I'd like us all to think about.

Do you do photography for yourself or for other people?

Here's the dilemma,

You do photography strictly for yourself. Every once in a while you get lucky and somebody else really likes your work. (Or you just have pure TALENT and the majority like your pictures). Chances are you don't make any money at it.

You do photography strictly for others. Shooting what your "audience" if you will, likes to see. It tends to get a little boring sometimes because you generally just go through the motions. Every once in a while, you get a photo that you can say is YOURS; your style, your taste. Likely, you will make some good money but it might not be doing what you enjoy.

There is a middle ground somewhere but this is a question I have been asking myself lately. When am I doing photography for myself and when for others? Even when shooting a subject I want to shoot, I could have a chance to make some money if I change my mindset to just capturing something a client would purchase...

The man who said this is ~uberfoto, and I'm glad I found it. Some of his work is found below.

The dilemma

Who are we really doing photography for? Ourself or the audience? Or more specific, who should we do photography for? I think that the most reasonable answer is that you should do photography for yourself. But then again (and here's where the dilemma is kicking in), what if one could make a good fortune of photography? You have got to be honest with yourself, and take one extra moment of thought.

As a photographer, you will have to persuade no one but yourself. It is your ideas, your concepts, your work and your camera. The audience, on the other hand, only is a matter when you want to receive criticism and/or be appreciated. Most of us really like receiving comments that pick our spirits up, those comments that drives us to continue doing what we're doing.

Considering this dilemma is resulting in that we do photography both for ourselves and the audience, we are right back at where we started. Being appreciated and valued is something we all need - not as photographers, but as human beings. It's a natural instinct.

I'll go ahead and submit another quote, and I think this sums up pretty good what we've just discussed.

People sometimes ask me if I am annoyed by the slew of comments and posts I get on here - but I'll never tire of being appreciated and valued.

Every comment or post of support means a lot to me. Everyone who views my work and comments pushes me to top myself with my next new work. Having an audience for my work has given me energy and drive to do something greater or different with every shoot. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fall short, but every time I learn valuable lessons.

Art and photography are more about the eye that sees and the brain than the hand that draws or the megapixels of the camera... Learning to see in ways I used to be blind to - learning from mistakes and critically evaluating everything I've done that worked and what didn't work has been a key to my evolution as an artist.

This quote's from =lithiumpicnic's journal, the man who brought the world Natural History, motion study and Water Monsters.

Conclusion

So, why did I want you to read all this rubbish? Well, first of all, I wanted you to really think of who you're doing your photography for, yourself or the audience. Secondly, I wanted you to understand that both you, your art, and the audience is to be seen as a totality. We give and we receive, in other words - we share. And this is what deviantART is all about. Now get out there and spread the love!