A photograph is

A photograph is a collection of 1’s and 0’s on a hard drive somewhere.
A photograph is a memory of something that has happened and will never happen again.
A photograph is the result of some person pressing a button.
A photograph is the only realistic expression of life.
A photograph is a lie.
A photograph is the ultimate truth.
A photograph is a vision that a person had and decided to share.
A photograph is a look into the mind of another person.
A photograph is just another way of recording an event.
A photograph is truth only to its creator.
A photograph is the evolution of art.
A photograph is a waste of time.
A photograph is …

Where is the value in photography? Why do we continue to shoot photos? What makes a photo “bad?” What makes a photo “good” or “valuable?” Is it having a photo free of technical flaws? Is it following every rule of composition? Is it perfect lighting? Is it shooting photos of something that’s really important? Is it creating strong emotions and provoking deep thought about the universe? Is it being able to see every person’s face clearly in the group shot? Is it breaking all the rules but still coming out with a photo that somebody likes?

I can go on forever shooting photos. When have I actually accomplished something? Is it all for nothing, or is there some bit of value somewhere? What about when I capture an epic landscape that inspires millions of people to conserve that environment, or I shoot a photo of a man with his family that turns out to be the last photo of that man before he dies? Do I succeed every time I make a photograph that makes someone smile, or am I constantly trying to achieve the perfection I know I’ll never reach?