[chris_st]

> the process of paying careful attention to a scene

I think you've hit on the main thing here that (in a sense) differentiates you from the "normal photographer". Honestly, a lot of people just "point and shoot", in the article's "save an ephemeral memory" sense. You're taking the time to make a careful composition (and artistic composition is not something most people study). Your "capturing 'the perfect moment'" and "analysis and critique" are just not something a lot of friends and family do on vacations.

Not that there's anything wrong with any of that! But I think that's probably the difference here.

[pretentiousPear]

Agreed. Personally, I take photos daily - but a big portion of them is to capture something I don't have time to write down or a capacity to remember. Those could be adds in newspapers, clothing in some store etc.