who do you shoot for?

I have a strong desire for solitude and photography provides that outlet.

So, I photograph for selfish reasons, for me.
 
First & foremost - myself. Photography is a release for me... artistically & mentally. Although I find street photography plenty gut wrenching at times, overall photography is a way to rest my mind and free it from day to day stress. It's a time I forget deadlines, debts, etc...
Secondly - my family. Mainly for memories & keepsakes. A photograph brings about & helps us relive the emotion of a given moment in time & this is important to my wife & I.
 
I've only been doing this photography thing for a year now and I must say it is a very enjoyable hobby. Fondling cameras is a joy, going out and about and seeing things as potential frames has really opened me up to my city- really great. I do it for myself as a creative exercise. All the 'calender' type stuff that I unfortunately have yet to stifle gets emailed to my parents! They like it very much!
 
Myself and my friends... and technically the University newspaper, but they get 3rd or 4th choice photos because they insist on retaining all rights - no way I give them my best!
 
The photography gods, angels and those occasional little devils. Got my first camera at age 10. My dad taught color and commercial at NY Institute of Photography in the '50s. Helped at home, late nites in the darkened apt kitchen helping do side jobs to pay the rent. Bless him it gave me the chops to work my way through Penn State. All those coeds needing pics to send home. VP PSU camera club with Mark Cohen.... Mark intro'd me to Leica and encouraged me to see, for which I am eternally grateful. Years later discovered musical instrument making and sold all the photo equipment to buy woodworking tools. Now, at 68, jumping back into the craft as a semi-retirement gift, for closing the repair end of guitar and lute making. Currently setting up the darkroom and boy is it nice to feel like I'm home again.....
 
Considering how often my wife asks, "why on earth did you take that one?", I guess my answer to the OP is that I shoot for myself.
 
I don't shoot for myself. Since I am my own editor and creative staff, I tell myself what to shoot, but I actually shoot for the audience. You know those real and imagined folks who will (eventually) see and appreciate (or not) my stuff and offer up some fine, concept based critique.

I am in school to learn the mechanics of the art photography business. So I hope to 'see' you all in the galleries ... soon!
 
I shoot for the pure joy of it. Whenever I'm stressed and feeling emotionally "dry", I grab the camera, go into the countryside here in north Georgia (USA) and lose myself for hours. I selfishly hope someday to be good enough to be "discovered" and published in an actual nationally recognized magazine or locally at some fine art gallery. Until or unless that happens, what I shoot I share for the sheer delight of trying to let others experience what my feeble old eyes saw and with the hope they see some of the beauty and unique objects I've seen as a result.
 
[FONT=&quot]I photograph for enjoyment. Having a hobby is a great way to expand your world, enrich your life.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]With regards to photography, curiosity at the depiction of reality when it is transformed into 2D B&W film images is fascinating.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Like a simpleton unable to figure out a simple sleight of hand trick and demanding repeated performances only to be endlessly and equally fascinated by each performance.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]May be someday I’ll grow tired of this one trick pony but until then I’m the idiot with the wild eyes and the goofy smile on his face. :)[/FONT]
 
It is indeed a good question. So good, in fact, that I don't know the answer. In the end, I suppose it's a bit of "all the above".
 
I shoot for myself. When I see a result that I like I have a desire to share it with others, and go on to take pleasure in other people seeing it, especially if they too like it, but no I only shoot for myself.
Photography is personal and the photos I take are an extension of myself; my thoughts, ideas and emotions.

That being said I need money, so if the chance ever arises (and I somehow become less socially inept) I would occasionally whore myself out and shoot a wedding or something, just to put a little something back in the bank account.
 
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