I've been taking photos ever since I got my first Sony DSC-S50 for about $500 when I was in college. That was a HUGE chunk of change back then, but that camera was awesome. Removal storage sticks available up to a whopping 64 MB in capacity. You needed that capacity with a monster resolution of 2.1 megapixels.
Times have changed. First, I never sold any of the photos I took with that old Sony. Yes, the specs are laughable by the standards of today, but so was my skill set. Fastforward about a decade and a half, and both my skillset and my gear are a little better. I don't want to derail into a gear review post (though I reserve the right to do one eventually), but if you're curious, we're doing Nikon bodies, Nikon and Tamron lenses, and a truly mixed bag of other accessories.
Art doesn't really exist until people see it. I don't want to be Vivian Maier. If my work has merit, I want to share it with those that may appreciate it. If it sucks, I'd rather not go to my grave thinking I sat on a private treasure trove that could've changed the world when it was in fact crap. I'm putting it out there, and the market will tell me if it is any good.