It’s Time (Fiction word count: 100)
Again.
Teenager used camera and left it outside.
Angry thoughts clicked while folding the tripod.
“Sorry I left the camera out, but guess what mom?
I captured that fox!
Well… at first I left the lens on – but then I did the ‘rip and grip’ and captured’em running – caught a bokeh effect – from the porch lights….!
Am I in trouble?
“Actually – get your jacket.
It’s time to buy you some gear. We’ll start with a nifty 50.
Also, we need to talk about sloppy habits – you CANNOT leave gear outside.”
Okay mom, I promise to try to focus better.
.
__
__
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle – Go here to join in or read more.
Author Notes
Grip and rip (and spray and pray) refers to taking as many shots of one subject as possible in order to get one or two sharp – or awesome – images (more info here and here).
.
.
.
.
.
.
focus. we all need it
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
I agree
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s an awesome image, Yvette 🙂
Night shot of a moving Jackal… great work…
Thank you for introducing Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
soooo NICE to “see” you Sreejith! and you should check out Friday Fictioneers- I read along for years (well on and off) before joining in – so nice to read such short pieces – my kind of fiction.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is certainly interesting and I will be following too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh it is SO nice to see you – ((cannot say it enough – ❤ )
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re not cheap – this does want me to dig out my old 50 and get taking photos again 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes – not cheap at all – and glad to inspire you to dig for the gear –
guess there is a time to pack it up and a time to dig it out….
hah
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Yvette,
Smart mom to see that despite his apparent carelessness, she sees the potential photographer. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Oooh, I’m related to some people who would cringe at the thought.
LikeLike
Prior, as a parent of a teenager who is rather absent minded, I loved and related to this. So true to life. Thanks for introducing me to Grip and rip (and spray and pray). I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of these before, but I did my photography training pre digital when you tried to get it right the first time and bracketed shots and couldn’t afford to take randoms on the hope something might work. I have felt that while we now have loads more photos, that most aren’t really worth having and even stuff I see printed in newsletters etc is poor. I am using the phone on my camera more now than I used to, but it still feels like having both hands tied behind my back. Nothing like using an SLR!
BTW that’s a great photo of the fox. Love it.
Best wishes,
Rowena
LikeLike
Focus better. Oy.
LikeLike
I know…
had to add it tho …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Focus is good! Hmm, I never knew I was often gripping and ripping and spraying and praying! 🤗😁
LikeLike
Aye, but she got the shot! Go girl! Excellent story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks so much – yes- got the shot!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely tale and a great pic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks very much
LikeLiked by 1 person
My friend Andrew is a photographer. If he read this, he’d likely rip his hair out. He hates the grip and rip method. But this was a good story. It gave a different feeling. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks very much, Miles. And I know a few photographers that would cringe with your friend Andrew – lol
and thx for the comment and visit
LikeLike
I loved that story! You turned around mom’s emotions with great neatness from anger at sloppy behaviour to “Hey – this kid’s got potential!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely staccato story, Yvette. Spray and pray seems to be the attitude of all Hollywood movie stars too. The song voice was authentic, along with the bad habits.
LikeLike
Not all parents would be so receptive. Then again, I imagine the child’s enthusiasm had a lot to do with it! And yes… bloody hell… FOCUS and put your stuff away! Can you tell I have to repeat that ad nauseum here?
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks for noticing the enthusiasm – I think i am finally learning how to use exclamation points in the right way – 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! Indeed you are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A pretty tolerant mother but wise too – she maybe sees a Bailey or a Neill in the making,
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes- she sees the potential – and maybe a little selfishly motivated cos if he has his own gear hers will be left alone – 🙂
LikeLike
That is a sweet story. I am looking forward to get more lenses 🙂
LikeLike
si
si
si
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lessons! Lessons! Lessons!
LikeLike
He’ll appreciate it the most once he pays for it our of pocket.
LikeLike
ahhh – now that is a very good point – everyone values things more when they have more invested 🙂
LikeLike
Great interplay between mom and son. The dialogue is realistic. Good job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks granonine
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful! Instead of chewing him out, she taps into his potential.
LikeLiked by 1 person
exactly….
both maturing – 🙂
LikeLike
What a beautiful click…and the story wasn’t too bad either 🙂 Just kidding, loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 ha
and thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the two meanings of focus you used.
LikeLike
thanks draliman – and I know sometimes these play on words is too obvious – but I was going for obvious (I guess – it is a little blurry now) – jk
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice 🙂 And I love the last line “Okay mom, I promise to try to focus better.” Teen years might be the most confusing: a bricolage of purpose and indistinctness 🙂
LikeLike
yes – and such major brain changes and physical growth – whew – 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Focus better! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww Mom sounds very fair and encouraging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 but she was angry while packing up the tripod – so a little self-talk brought her back into a nice mode
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely teaching moment. The teenager has talent and interest, and even though he messed up in leaving the equipment out, his mom wants to encourage that. Of course, with the caveat that the teen learns to be responsible. Nice job! =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brenda – thanks so much for the detailed comment – and sometimes we do not even mean to put that into our writing – it sorta just happens.
:)_
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that he will eventually learn all the different aspects of focusing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hah – shared optimism here
LikeLike
I do the grip and rip all the time. Most of my subjects are shot from a moving target. From, not of.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh that is interesting and really shows your signature approach – on the move!
LikeLike
What a great parental reaction. At once ticking them off for being irresponsible and encouraging them to continue with something in which they have talent. Great story
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks for catching the transition. A bit angered to then problem solving with health in mind – never perfection – but loving and trying and not taking life too seriously (let’s lighten up and just enjoy and love more…)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing wrong with loving more 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
ahhhh
agree
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great use of language. A dialogue we can all relate to. And I expect once the teenage has their own gear, they’ll be less likely to leave it outside in the elements.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sarah Ann, hopefully that will be the case – or maybe if they forget and it gets damaged the “loss” will have an impact that leads to mindfulness.
I once heard a lady say that she lost her purse only once – it was so scary and costly – she hold her purse closely and is ever so mindful – sometimes that big event is a good thing
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope he at least got into trouble for his negligence but at least it’s good he has a hobby he can be really interested in and good at. I’m happy that you’ve improved me vocabulary. Now I know what a bokeh effect is
LikeLiked by 1 person
well thanks for reading – and glad to intro the term bokeh to you – although it feels tired and old over here – seems like it was over talked about in some of my circles in 2016-2017….
oh and thanks for reading and commenting
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome shot of the fox! I like that mom is supportive nonetheless 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks Fatima – 🙂
LikeLike
I like to think he’s starting out on film and a lot of manual settings. I really hope so. Nicely written.
LikeLike
well yes, when you put it that way we will have him start off this way – (thanks Patrick)
🙂
LikeLike
I love the photo of the fox.
Such a great take on the prompt!
Also, I love a mom who doesn’t yell.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ahhhh – well she is not perfect and she arrived at this point (all fiction here – ;))
but she arrived here with lessons learned and with the ongoing aim to improve and work at democratic and loving parenting style (as opposed to permissive or overly authoritarian).
🙂
LikeLike
Great take on the prompt. Sounds like the start of a great hobby or profession!
LikeLiked by 1 person
maybe a great hobby….
whew – seems like a super tough profession to break into – eh?
LikeLike