Ann,
I look at each photograph as a jumping off place. Whatever the original photo is about, my continuing question is 'What else can I do with it?' as I manipulate it digitally. Yes, the resulting photos are often(usually) light years away from anything recognizable. What I enjoy is that moment when a manipulated image works for me. Frequently the pleasure comes from a comparison of how the image started life.
I don't think regular visual artists have that flexibility of try this, try that. They look at a subject and decide how they want to portray it. I look at my photo and I start generating versions. Heck, I do the same thing when I write poetry. I swear my mind exists solely for the purpose of version generation. I get all the versions out there, and then decide what I like best. Sometimes, I like none of it; all those versions get set aside for later evaluation/trash.
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