Randal, I don't have to worry about family when I shoot, although sometimes I do when I'm with friends, especially when travelling. When I do, it's often about compromise. I become more selective of where I stop and shoot, and generally speaking this approach works well in not alienating my friends when I'm in photography mode. Also sometimes it's just a matter of give-and-take -- I'll miss the lovely early evening light to go out to dinner, but they will probably wake up when I get up at 4 am to catch the sunrise elsewhere. And sometimes it's about saying - you do what you want to do, and I'll do what I want to do, and we'll meet up later. That way we both have "me" time, which is good.
When I'm local, I just know that if I'm with non-photographers, even in a highly photogenic environment (which is often the case here in Kyoto), I know that the only pictures I'll be taking is with my iPhone. Trying to do anything else generally leads to frustration for everyone involved. Luckily though, I'm single and live alone so I can choose when and where I want to photograph at any time, although during the school year work often gets in the way. That being said, it was really great to meet a local APUG member recently (oolalajp) - it's the first time I've been with someone who walks as slowly as I do, spending time looking at things with a photographer's eyes. How great. It made me realise I wasn't a freak for being such a slow walker (because I'm always looking, even in familiar routine environments). I guess there are similarities that most photographers share and understand in one another.
When I'm local, I just know that if I'm with non-photographers, even in a highly photogenic environment (which is often the case here in Kyoto), I know that the only pictures I'll be taking is with my iPhone. Trying to do anything else generally leads to frustration for everyone involved. Luckily though, I'm single and live alone so I can choose when and where I want to photograph at any time, although during the school year work often gets in the way. That being said, it was really great to meet a local APUG member recently (oolalajp) - it's the first time I've been with someone who walks as slowly as I do, spending time looking at things with a photographer's eyes. How great. It made me realise I wasn't a freak for being such a slow walker (because I'm always looking, even in familiar routine environments). I guess there are similarities that most photographers share and understand in one another.