The Camera Store by Karen Blayne

Oh by the way red tape first.

Be warned these short stories contain mature content or naughty bits and as such may corrupt you if you’re under 12, 16, 18, 21 or 25 depending where you live thus they are not suitable for you so put them back on the shelf and let them age for a year or two.

They were sort of scribbled for fun. They were first posted on asstr.org. If you’ve paid money for this book just be aware the author has not received any payment. In fact no one has permission to charge money for this book and copyright is retained by the author. ©2019 All copies must be of the complete document. Asstr.org accepts donations if you’re feeling rich or even if you’re not.

Luv Karen.

She eyed up the customer and pondered if he was worth the effort. Still you never could tell. “May I be of assistance?” “What would you recommend as a top of the line outfit?” He asked confidently. Either daddy was very rich or he was just curious. Well it was mid month and she had a bit of time to spare. She glanced round at the rest of the customers Harry was well engrossed with a young lady who wanted something in pink. There was a nondescript guy floating around as well. She looked towards Eric and he gestured he was just browsing. Eric looked at the displays of cameras, he’d always wondered about doing some photography and he had the time now. There was a click at the door as if the lock had been engaged.

He drifted closer to the counter to overhear the sales patter. “Well we’d start off with a full frame FX D5 Nikon of course but that’s not much use by itself without some accessories.” She took the time to explain the features of the Nikon D5 and why it was so well regarded by professional photographers. Talking in terms of sensor size, range of accessories and how well it was built and how it had evolved. Then she started on the lenses.

“There are over ninety different Nikkor lenses each has its own special niche. To start with I’d suggest a mid range zoom, a couple of wide angle, then for portrait work you’ll need a telephoto with a wide aperture so you can keep the face in focus whilst putting the background out of focus.” She turned and pulled a few more boxes out and placed them on the counter. “With some many lenses it’s an idea to have two or even three bodies so you can quickly switch from using one lens to another.” She placed another two boxes on the counter. “Now you’ll need speedlights, camera bags to carry it all although these days we favour hard cases lined with foam with cut outs to protect the cameras and of course the latest in tripods.”

The customer was looking less confident by now. “How much are we up to?” “Well one 800 mm telescopic lens by itself is a little under $20,000, most are cheaper say an average of $3,000 each. The bodies are on sale, a mere $15,000 for a pack of three. The tripods are 5% off this week. Shall we say close to a $300,000 by the time we throw in half a dozen speedlights for a basic setup?” “Look at the time I must be going.” He turned and almost ran to the door. She pressed a button and the door audibly unlocked as he arrived. Eric grinned at the sight. She’d bring him down to earth fast enough.

“And would you like a complete outfit sir?” “I wouldn’t know how to use it, otherwise I would.” “For another hundred thousand I could arrange a personalised course for you that covered the basic techniques.” She joked. “Might be interesting. How long would it take?” “About four months.” “OK.” He said OK, and if he didn’t blink at the price of the equipment 100,000 was peanuts. She picked up the phone and called her cousin. “Do you know it’s the middle of the night here?” screeched the phone. She calmed her cousin down and described what she wanted and how much the client was willing to pay. “It’s two weeks to the end of term but yes I can arrange it then. Ask him to drop ten thousand euros in my account as an act of faith.” She turned to the guy who nodded and pulled his phone out. “Bank account details?”

She took his name and details down. He’d be back with a draft for the money tomorrow. She undertook to have it all ready and waiting for him when he arrived thinking it was the last she’d seen of him.

At six the next morning when she awoke she checked her phone. She had a text from her cousin. She’d had an email to say the ten thousand euros had arrived in her account and she had confirmed it was there. Looks like the first job in the store was to put together $300,000 worth of camera equipment.

When Eric arrived she suggested she make up a basic set for him to take with him to his course and the rest he could pick up when he returned. “The tripod is on back order but I can arrange its delivery directly to the college.” She forwarded the email with the syllabus for the course to him. “It’s abroad?” She smiled at him. “My cousin is a lecturer in photography at an art college and it is her summer break hence the three month tailored course. You’ll enjoy it I’m sure. She suggests spending a couple of weeks recovering from jet lag first so you’re recovered by the time she starts taking you through all the technical bits. Oh and a small free gift.” She handed him a Canon Powershot that looked tiny compared to the SLR cameras. “You press the button on top and the zoom lens zooms out. It much lighter to carry and you don’t have to worry about having $10,000 worth of camera snatched from you.” “What sort of photographs does it take?” “For general snapshots it takes very good photos comparable in quality most of the time to the expensive Nikons, you just need to put your reading glasses on to see the screen on the back before you press the shutter.” “You mean I could have saved the odd few thousand dollars?” “For all practical purposes yes but putting your reading glasses on each time to take a photo is inconvenient and my cousin will show you how to get the best out of your Nikons.” She smiled her very sweetest smile at him and looked thoughtful for a moment. She turned round and pulled out a small Canon SL2 and switched the lens for a 50 mm one which made it much more compact. “Something to practise with. Have fun.”

He looked up the flights. If he flew Norwegian to Dublin he could travel the rest of the way by ferry and train. He’d been wondering what it would be like to fly a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and now he’d have his chance. He managed to get one of the seats with extra leg room and throughly enjoyed the flight. Dublin airport though could have been easier to get through though. Dublin itself seemed very small, a single bus ride would take him directly to the harbour. Soon he was stretched out in bed in a cabin on the ferry crossing the Irish sea to Wales. He went up on deck and used the small SL2 to snap a few photos as they crossed the straits. He travelled Holyhead to Euston surprised to find he got on at Holyhead and stepped off at Euston. It was a mere ten minute walk to St. Pancras International he was told but with his case he thought about taking a cab until he saw the line up. Exercise was good for you he reminded himself as he walked up the street. Odd seeing the traffic driving on the other side of the road. Soon he was travelling under the English channel into Europe without even having to wear scuba gear.

He managed to change trains and eventually just before mounting the final train to his destination sending a text off whilst still in the coffee bar using their WiFi. He hoped the train wouldn’t be delayed. Looking at it he wasn’t totally sure it would complete the journey.

Ingrid looked at the image on her phone and then at the passengers leaving the train. That one could be him. She waved him over and he walked stiffly across to her. “Eric?” She questioned. He nodded. “You are coming with me.” He blinked. “To my teacher we must go.” “Sounds good.” “My accent is good no?” Eric had to think for a moment or two. “You would like me to come with you to meet your teacher?” “Yes but the would and could we only learnt last week so I must practise them.” She frowned in concentration “Would you be so kind as to travel with me to meet my teacher?” “Lead on MacDuff.” “No it should be ‘Lay on, Macduff’ from Shakespeare’s Macbeth? We studied Macbeth to learn English.” Eric thought it was going to be a long sixteen weeks. “You are correct of course but it has been misquoted for the last hundred and fifty years at least.” “So it is more correct to use ‘Lead on MacDuff’ these days?” “Correct unless you are talking to an English teacher who studied English at university level.” “I find English very confusing. Why did a soldier decide to desert his desert in the desert?” ” “No idea and I find it confusing sometimes as well.” “Good let us catch the bus.” “Taxi?” “The bus will get us there before the lecture ends so why go quickly more.”

They caught the bus and she guided him into the cafeteria. “Do you like milk and sugar in your coffee?” “I’ll come with you.” “I thought you might like to grab a seat before the lecture ends and the cafeteria fills up. We need five chairs.” He dumped his bags on two chairs and spread out after handing her a banknote for the coffee.

“Eric?” He nodded. “Good you got here safely then. Now term ends in two weeks so I think if you take the time to recover from your jet lag that should do nicely. I’ve arranged to rent a cottage in the country for the first two months and we’ll be concentrating on wild life photography. You can see the cottage in the distance from my office window. It’s about ten kilometres away. It’s a bit primitive, no phone, electricity or internet. Hédi is the bird watching enthusiast, Krisztina is interested is drawing plants and Ingrid whom you have already met is interested in photography but more to the point she is willing to cook for us. For the moment I suggest you leave your camera case with me and I can lock it away in my office. Now we must find you somewhere comfortable to stay.” “I’d budgeted 300 euros a night?” Ingrid looked shocked. “I could stretch to 350 I suppose.” “For 300 euros a night you can have my bed.” “But where will you sleep?” Krisztina made a comment which he didn’t understand but Hédi broke into the giggles, and the professor grinned and Ingrid blushed beautifully. “I have sleeping bag.” She replied with dignity. “Lead on MacDuff.” “Who is MacDuff?” Asked Krisztina. “It’s just an expression.” Hédi looked at him “You look tired. Ingrid should take you home and tuck you up in her bed.” Krisztina and Hédi started giggling once more. Ingrid glared at them then turned to Eric “Time for bed said Zebedee.” Eric had to think for a moment “The Magic Roundabout.” Ingrid and Eric left together as she took him back to their shared apartment. “Will it do?” She asked nervously showing him her room. The bed was unmade and she had a few posters up on the wall. “Perfectly.” Replied Eric placing his bags on the floor. “I just need to catch up on some sleep.” “Rent money?” “Sorry I wasn’t thinking. He peeled off half a dozen hundred dollar euro notes. “Enough to start?” She smiled, the first time he’d seen her smile so far. “Thank you. I leave and shop. I wake you at supper.” The bed was comfy and full of an Ingrid sort of smell which he soaked up and enjoyed.

She went to the big supermarket and brought a sleeping bag, sleeping mat and pork chops at the meat display. Then she counted out her money and decided she could just afford a new cotton tee shirt to wear as a night dress. She didn’t think her old one was quite respectable enough.

When she got back she looked at the time and decided she just had enough time to prepare a pork chop casserole. So quickly threw all the ingredients into a casserole dish and placed it carefully in the oven. After that she curled up on sofa with her course work that needed to be completed by the next day.

Hédi took another fork full. “Is it Christmas?” “No just Monday, but I spent some of Eric’s rent money.” “I should give you more for food.” Hédi declared she was in love. Eric declared “It’s only cupboard love.” Krisztina looked puzzled “Why would you want to love a cupboard?” Ingrid started to giggle “You should say in the cupboard.” Eric had to explain that cupboard love meant Hédi was mercenary. “But she hasn’t a gun.” “Make love not war.” Eric started to laugh and slowly explained what cupboard love meant and mercenary could be used as an adjective as well as a noun and meant different things.

The next morning Eric was awakened by the sound of movement in the apartment above. He found Ingrid curled up in her sleeping bag in his room. “I feel bad about you sleeping on the floor.” “I feel good about three hundred euros a day. My back is better on the floor. Hédi will show you around this morning.” She crawled out of her sleeping bag and carried her clothes off to get dressed and get to her lectures.

Hédi first had him buy a pass so they could ride the trams and buses. She showed him the tourist attractions, including a stone bridge that stretched over the river. “Completed in 1850.” She read out from the guide book. Eric put his reading glasses on and took a photo of Hédi standing by the bridge with the Powershot. Then she put the camera on a flat surface and pressed the menus before coming back to stand besides him saying “Smile.” The camera gave a small flash of light just as Eric grinned at her word.

They wandered through the older part of the city admiring the architecture. “I have never taken the time to do this before. It is interesting?” “Definitely interesting.” “Here is the café.” “The café?” “The very good one that poor students can’t afford to eat in.” “And its lunchtime shall we enter?” “It is not affordable? Is affordable the right word?” He looked at the French menu. “Well for once in your life we won’t consider the cost.” They entered together.

The waiter guided them to a table and handed them the menu in French. He started to describe each dish but stopped when Eric addressed him in French. Being Tuesday was normally quiet and lunchtime doubly so the only person who spoke French was Jean-Paul himself. Mark hesitated then slipped into the kitchen since they weren’t busy could Jean-Paul sort out a customer?

Jean-Paul came out and soon was in a discussion with Eric that left the waiter and Hédi completely out of the conversation. Eric suggested which items he’d like and pointed to them on the menu. Mark translated them for Hédi and everyone was satisfied. Hédi looked round the café at the paintings on the wall absorbing the ambience. She glanced at a large poster for the opera festival that was starting later in the week. “The others will be jealous of us eating in here.” “We could come back for dinner this evening.” Jean-Paul interrupted in French “You must come back this evening I am preparing something special I know you will enjoy. We are fully booked later week with the festival but this evening at say six o’clock before the rush?” “A table for four then for six o’clock?” Eric turned to Hédi “Ask the others if they would like to dine here this evening at six.” Hédi sent off a pair of text messages and looked at the replies.

The lunch was excellent and as they relaxed over coffee Hédi said “I must go and prepare for this evening. Can you find your way home?” Eric nodded.

Eric browsed the stores on the way back. There was an attractive young lady assistant in the men’s department with green eyes who didn’t speak English but somehow he ended up with a Dinner Jacket ensemble, well that’s what it said on the label he thought it was a Tux. He thought it was the way she smiled when he approved her choice that made him putty in her hands. She steered him towards the kitchen gadgets after giving him a carrier to take with him. He had difficulty resisting gadgets and this one looked especially interesting. WiFi enabled no less, he tried hard not to think why you’d need a WiFi enabled pressure cooker with lots of buttons on the front for boiling an egg and was quite glad Hédi or Ingrid weren’t with him. He’d surprise them. Boiled eggs for breakfast tomorrow. He wondered what would happen if he pressed the cake button. Eggs first, more complicated things to follow. The sales assistant with her blue eyes and charming smile was especially helpful. “Have you seen our new solar kit? You just unpack it and you can use your new appliance off grid and of course you’ll want a pair of WiFi aerials for it as well.” She wasn’t sure what WiFi aerials were and they had been sitting on the shelve for quite a while now. A quick flutter of her eye lashes and an offer of twenty five percent off the second aerial if he brought two together and the sale was done. He ordered a solar panel kit one but would supply the delivery address later.

He had his purchases wrapped in brown paper and smuggled them into Ingrid’s room at the apartment. At least he thought it was the right apartment but there seemed to be long elegant dresses draped all over the place. Krisztina stepped out of the shower and called out “Finished” and Ingrid scurried in. Hédi stood in front of him and motioned him to do her zip up which he did wondering why wouldn’t you put the zip at the front but didn’t dare voice the question.

They took turns in sitting in front of the mirror resting on the table to do their hair and eventually they turned to him and looked at him expectantly. “Clean jeans?” He queried. The dictionary came out. “Slacks?” Ingrid shook her head and headed in to her room to see what he had that was most suitable. She came out smiling carrying the carrier bag. They swooped on him and undressed him before dressing him up once more this time in evening dress. “Now we go.” “Not before he tells us how good we look.” “You all look very beautiful. Were did the dresses come from?” “These are our project dresses from the fashion course.” “We designed them and made them up.” “We are good n’est pas?” “Why does English use French expressions?” He was still fending off questions as they caught the tram.

Jean-Paul put his head out of the kitchen to see how the café was filling up and caught sight of them as they arrived in their elegant long dresses. He spoke into his headset and they were guided to a more prominent table for six than the waiter had intended for their reservation.

The girls were in a mood to be admired and not only by Eric. Krisztina noticed a pair of businessmen at the entrance, the younger one looked cute. The waiter asked them if they had a reservation and was about to turn them away when Krisztina discreetly pointed to the two empty chairs on their table. The waiter glanced at Eric for confirmation just as he was smiling at a remark of Ingrid’s. “Hello I’m Ingrid.” Ingrid welcomed the newcomers. They replied in English and it was obvious to Eric that Krisztina had an admirer and was basking in his attention. Hédi placed her hand on his thigh and whispered “You don’t mind Krisztina and Ingrid gently flirting do you?” Her hand moved slowly up his thigh until it rested just below his crotch with her finger brushing against his testicles. Eric decided he would just stay quietly enjoying the sensations that Hédi was creating. Besides Phillip and David as they were now could make the effort of speaking to the girls in English and correcting their speech.

Phillip, the elder of the two, tried to catch the waiter’s eye in order to see the menu whilst David explained they were just in town for a couple of meetings in the next day or two. They were busy but Jean-Paul himself came out to serve his plat du jour to all six diners at the table. The girls vocally admired the artistic layout on the plates. David tried a small piece of meat covered in sauce and thought himself in heaven. Phillip resigned himself to eat what the others were eating but found himself enjoying the dish. Eric was enjoying himself just observing people in the room. Especially Phillip’s expression changes as he first inspected his plate then as he tried first one bite and then another. Ingrid dived in her bag and brought out the Canon SL2 she’d picked up whilst finding Eric’s clothes and snapped the both the plates on the table and the girls and guests in their finery. Eric held his hand out to look at the camera. “I have one just like this.” “I found it in our room. You don’t mind do you?” She grinned at him.

A tall brown bottle was dropped off at their table and Krisztina filled the six glasses which emptied the bottle. A toast and the glasses were drained. Eric made a small gesture and a second bottle arrived. This one was a sparkling Rosé. The girls loved the colour and the bubbles. Eric thought that Phillip might prefer a claret so borrowed a red pen from Hédi and drew a classic Claret bottle shape in red. He approved the selection and Phillip was given a glass of red claret wine which seemed to mellow him. Ingrid drew him out and soon he was telling the table tales of sales meetings that had gone spectacularly wrong or even one or two that he hadn’t been expecting to succeed but had gone well. Of customers who hadn’t understood what they had brought or how to use it. At the moment they were in town to point out to a customer that the equipment they had brought was more than capable of producing the numbers they wanted it just had to be configured correctly which was David’s job. The tales were interrupted by the girls demanding an explanation of this word or that phrase. Eric tried a glass of claret as well which he found to his liking. A hot sweet course arrived and with it a bottle of a sweet white wine which once more just filled a glass each.

Then Hédi spotted the chocolate cake on the sweet trolley and each of the girls decided they must have a slice each. Krisztina fed David a fork full of her’s and Hédi decided to feed Eric a fork full of hers. Phillip looked left out so Ingrid fed him and commanded three more slices from the waiter.

David’s smartphone warbled and after he’d inspected the message Krisztina had a look at it and sent herself an email from it for fun and so she could send him a copy of the photos that Ingrid had been taking.

Eric looked at the line up at the front of the café and decided he’d pay the bill and usher the girls home before they became too unsteady on their feet. He stood and walked over to the waiter’s station and quietly paid the bill including Phillip and David’s since they’d worked hard on the girls English and kept them all amused. Jean-Paul was passing and gave him an envelope. “The opera festival gave me a free box for the dress rehearsal tomorrow night. We’ll be too busy to attend but if you could make use of it you’re welcome.” Eric thanked him and discreetly passed him a hundred euro bill in exchange. When he sat down once more Hédi gave him a look that asked if he’d paid for Phillip and David’s meal he quietly indicated he had. “Time for bed said Zebedee.” He announced. Krisztina pouted but Hédi reminded her she had classes the next day.

Phillip had enjoyed the evening and was willing to pick up the tab for the group so waved to the waiter for the bill but Hédi indicated it had already been paid. “Tonight you have sung for your supper.” She announced. Krisztina turned to David “You have a nice accent.” and kissed him on the cheek. As they left Phillip turned to David. “Not a word about getting a free dinner tonight when we get back to the office.” “They’d never believe me anyway.”

Eric ushered the girls out of the restaurant and on to the tram.

“I never see him again.” Lamented Krisztina as they rode the tram home the girls gently swaying as the tram travelled along and Eric thought it wasn’t just the tram swaying. He managed to guide them inside and they flopped down. Ingrid looked at Krisztina and then at Eric “We need to get her to bed.” Between them they moved her into the bedroom and Ingrid lent Krisztina up against Eric before unzipping her dress and letting it pool to the ground. “Lift her up.” Eric did as he was bid, Krisztina wrapped her arms round his neck and kissed him whilst Ingrid picked up the precious dress up and hung it carefully behind the door before collapsing in a chair.

“Take her bra off and slide her into bed.” Eric reached round Krisztina’s back and unclipped her bra and slid the straps off her shoulders. Krisztina moved her hands to cover her breasts which made it easier for Eric to pick her up and slide her into the double bed. “Hédi next.” He walked back to the sofa in the living room.

Eric held Hédi up and reached round for her zip. Hédi wiggled against him “I like it.” Eric tried counting to ten but Hédi’s one of thighs slipped between his worked its magic and he soon lost count. He twisted her around which seemed like a good idea until her butt wriggled into his crotch but at least now he could reach her zipper. He undid it and she wiggled out of her long silky dress. Quickly he scooped it up and hung it on a hanger on the back of the door. Next her bra he ran his hands over her back but couldn’t find the hooks. Standing behind her he let his fingers explore round the back band, round the sides until finally he discovered the bra was front opening. As he undid the clasp Hédi’s hands covered his fingers and guided them up over her erect nipples. She murmured something which he didn’t understand but Ingrid was standing now holding on to the back of the chair. “Tuck her up in bed?” “Where is it?” “She shares with Krisztina. They’re friends.” Eric led Hédi to the other side of the bed and slid her under the covers. Krisztina rolled over and kissed her on the lips, soon her hand had moved to Hédi’s breast and her lips followed. Eric looked towards Ingrid “Very close friends?” Ingrid shrugged “Well neither have boyfriends. I was surprised to see Krisztina with such an interest in David. It was probably just the attention she was basking in.”

Ingrid staggered towards their room. She stood silently whilst Eric undid her long dress then collapsed on the edge of the bed as he hung it up. “No bra?” He questioned. “They’re expensive and my breasts aren’t big so I don’t bother.” He looked at her and decided rather than try to insert her into the sleeping bag he’d slide her under the covers as he did so her hand slid round the back of his neck and he was gently pulled down so his mouth was over her breast. “They’d like a kiss.” She murmured. He kissed one nipple gently then covered it up. “We should act professionally.” “Oh you mean I get paid as well?” “Drunk means no.” She pouted then fell asleep.

He got undressed and hung his clothes up then wiggled down into the sleeping bag. The scent of Ingrid wafted across his nose and he fell asleep dreaming of her.

The next morning he dug out the envelope Jean-Paul had given him the night before and read the contents. A dress circle box that would hold eight people. “Would anyone like to attend the opera tonight? I have a free box for eight people.” Krisztina asked if they could invite David and Phillip. Eric said why not. Hédi wondered about wearing the same dress twice but as Ingrid pointed out men didn’t notice these things. In the end Krisztina sent David a message inviting him and they decided to invite Eric’s teacher as well.

David looked down at his phone then passed it to Phillip. “Are we going to the opera tonight?” “I don’t believe it. It must be a hoax but we can drop by if you like.” David sent off their acceptance. At the theatre they were ushered into the box by Krisztina who had been looking out for them and introduced them to her lecturer. “She is waiting to have her thesis approved and then she becomes a Doctor and a professor.” Phillip drew her out on the subject of her thesis.

Eric was seated at the front on the far side of the box and Hédi was sat next to him. “Why do people dress up in the dress circle for the Opera?” She asked “Well the tickets are normally very expensive and to show you have money you attend and dress up.” Hédi looked down at the stalls. “The green silk, does she realise how much she is displaying when seen from above?” Eric grinned. “Well it got her noticed n’est pas?” “We came here once when we first arrived. With student discount Tuesday night the gods are cheap but you need a telescope. Ingrid thinks it’s better on DVD.”

Ingrid and Krisztina as talked to David, Phillip lent across to him and mentioned he wasn’t to betray any trade secrets. Ingrid was intrigued and ran her fingers up his thigh. “What sort of trade secrets do you know?” Krisztina ran her fingers lightly under his jacket, across his shirt covered chest “Tell all.” She whispered in his ear. Eric turned his head to see what was going on but Hédi slipped her fingers on his thigh and moved them up until they were touching his crotch. “Pay them no attention.” She whispered. Fortunately the overture started and they settled down to listen to the music and the singing.

Finally his custom course would begin. He looked out of the window of the lecturer’s office and pulled out the yagi WiFi aerial, screwed it to the window frame and aimed it at the cottage.

He hadn’t really thought about using bicycles with trailers for the luggage but as Ingrid pointed out they were cheaper than renting a car only to have to pay for a car park and exercise was good for him. Everything in the apartment had to be loaded on the trailers since the college would be renting out the apartment during the summer by the week to tourists. “They get more money from the tourists than they get from us.” Ingrid complained. “Still the new hall has en suites to suit the tourists better.”

He wondered why it was only the lecturer who had a power assist electric bicycle. Still sharing a tandan with Ingrid wasn’t too bad. He didn’t even mind giving up the front seat half way there and letting her steer. The view was just as good if not better from the rear seat.

Finally they arrived. Well the cottage was definitely picturesque. “We will use it for architectural photographs.” “And flowers.” Added Krisztina looking at the archway of clematis around the front door.

Inside the cottage there were three bedrooms. “Who is sleeping where?” Asked the lecturer. “I’ll sleep with Eric on his floor and Hédi and Krisztina can share the double bed which leaves you the small bedroom with the single bed?” Ingrid and Eric set to work in the kitchen. The small stove used a gas cylinder. “Electric?” “No just gas there is no electricity here or phone service either.” It was quiet here and he enjoyed the stillness. After peeling the potatoes Eric connected the battery powered router to another WiFi Yagi aerial and aimed it towards the college. He crossed his fingers and found he had a signal so he sent off the address of the cottage to the store for his gadgets.

Next morning as he was being taught the basics of how the lenses fitted the cameras a truck rolled up and unloaded a pallet of solar panels and associated parts. Ingrid’s eyes rolled. “Lessons are over for today I think.”

They spent the rest of the day assembling the bits and trying to plug it all together. “So where does the electricity go when the batteries are full?” Eric didn’t know. “But it could heat water?” Krisztina borrowed the electric bike, the big trailer and a handful of notes from a distracted Eric and set off to the village. Hédi thought the panels should go on the south facing roof. Ingrid found some rope and a rickety ladder and between them they hauled the panels up whilst Eric stacked the batteries in an old shed.

“Why do men have to have so many toys?” “So we can wash our hair?” Hédi grinned “So that’s why you brought a hot water tank so we can have a shower and wash our hair. Perfect!”

Ingrid looked over Eric’s shoulder. “Your phone has a signal but mine doesn’t?” “I just connected to the college’s internet.” She gave him a hard stare, “If you must know the two yagi aerials are aligned so we can get a WiFi signal.” “I thought WiFi was like 100 metres and the college is ten kilometres away?” “It can go further with the right equipment.” “So I just connect to WiFi and it works?” “You’ll need a password but yes it should.” “Hey guys we may not have phone service but we do have internet access through WiFi.”

Ingrid looked at her smartphone which was displaying the current available from the batteries and the solar panels. “So if it’s sunny we can use a hair dryer on medium and if its not we can still use the slow pot or the Instant Pot?” Eric agreed. “If we had a microwave could we use that?” “Only if it was a low powered one.” Well the higher powered ones were more expensive thought Ingrid holding out her hand to Eric for the money to buy one.

“Now use a tripod to hold the camera steady and you want it far back and use a telescopic lense or since you have one you can use a Tilt-Shift lense. The problem is vertical perspective. When you look at a building the top tends to be smaller in vertical perspective than the base, but to record the building architecturally you want them to be the same width. The other thing you can do is adjust it in a graphics editor but there will be fewer pixels across the top than the bottom so it won’t look as good.”

Eric set up the camera and tripod. “Take the first one.” Eric pressed the release gently. “Now add a lense hood.” Ingrid pulled a suitable one out of his bag and passed it to him. Eric pressed the release once more. “Now use the remote.” Ingrid passed him the remote and Eric pressed the release once more. “You get less camera shake using a remote and that’s important using a telescopic lense.”

Ingrid looked through the view finder and thought it needed something. “Krisztina.” Krisztina looked up and after a long conversation flounced off. She reappeared shortly afterwards in a long sleeved ankle length dress wearing a straw hat. She posed herself looking at one of the flowers in the archway to the door. Eric used the remote. Ingrid walked across and posed Krisztina in various poses most of which had her back to the camera.

“By adding Krisztina we added a bit of human interest and scale to the building.” remarked the lecturer.

A week later they were stood next to a hide so they could photograph wild life and birds. “Birds aren’t good at counting so Krisztina will leave the hide after we enter it.”

Hédi walked towards the feeder and pulled out a small bean bag placing it in a tree where a branch grew out. Then she placed the Canon SL2 on the bean bag before returning to the hide. Eric looked on and wondered why. They set up the heavy tripod and attached the Nikon camera and it’s large telescopic lense. Eric stood with the remote in his hand and looked through the view finder until the bird he was after turned up in the view finder. Hédi borrowed his smartphone and was playing with it. He assumed games as he’d found there was no signal earlier when he checked. Ingrid took some photos using the Nikon on the tripod fussing over the aperture and speed.

When they broke for lunch Hédi retrieved the small Canon and as they connected it up to his laptop he saw she taken almost as many photographs as he had and the quality wasn’t much different to the expensive set up he’d been using. He gave her a questioning look. “Oh the megapixels are about the same and the Canon was much closer so didn’t need the expensive telephoto lense.” “But it doesn’t have a remote?” “I found an app that works with it so since it was in WiFi range I could control it all from your smartphone.” Eric felt cheated until Hédi admitted the tripod meant you could move where the camera was pointing to. “So if I built a little robot and lashed the camera to it I could control it with a smartphone?” “But it has to be a pretty one.” Remarked Ingrid and turned to finish her lunch. He looked through Ingrid’s photos and noticed she had a better eye for composition.

They moved on to macro photography or taking photographs very close up. “Now notice it doesn’t matter what type of photography you are doing composition and getting the balance right will give you better end results. Also using a tripod or bean bag helps. A bean bag is more portable though.”

Eric saw his work was improving over time bit he noticed that Ingrid seemed to be able to get more out of the equipment combining both artistic flair with a detailed knowledge of how to get the effects she wanted.

“We haven’t talked very much about lighting so far but when we move to portrait work then it becomes more controllable and important.” “Do we get paid for being models?” Asked Hédi impishly. “You are already getting paid and you’ll get a free portfolio.” Rebuked the lecturer sternly. “Five euros a day extra?” Murmured Eric, “Ten?” Answered back Ingrid and the deal was done.

They started portrait and fashion shots at the cottage using reflectors two spot lamps to fill in and but eventually the lecturer decided they really needed to move to a studio to gain better control.

“What should we do about the cottage?” Eric looked nonplussed “I don’t think we can take it with us.” “It seems such a shame to buy all the gadgets for it and leave them behind.” “How much would it cost to just buy it then?” The lecturer named a price that was a tenth of what he’d expected and not far off what he’d paid for the solar panels and things. “OK buy it. Then you can use it for weekends and things. How much would a detached house within tram or cycling distance of the college cost?”

Ingrid looked round the new house. People didn’t just buy houses did they? Apparently Eric did. She hoped the three students could use it when he left. Rent free she dreampt. Three bedrooms, she’d share one with Eric as normal now. That way she might persuade him to let her stay until she completed her course.

They rented a studio from the arts college ready to try fashion shots next. When they arrived there was a pallet with boxes marked camera accessories for Eric that had arrived whilst they were at the cottage. Eric eagerly opened the first box. It seemed to contain a track of some sort which he found puzzling. Hédi pounced on the book of instructions and directed the others on how to put it together. It looked very odd a sort of arm than ran on a track? It was Krisztina who worked out that it could hold a camera on the arm. “Well it’s not pink but it is a robot. Will it do Ingrid?” They all played with its Xbox style controllers seeing how it could control one of the cameras and move very quickly from a low shot to an overhead shot changing the focus as it did so.

Krisztina changed into the first of her outfits she’d designed and they started the fashion shoot. Ingrid and Hédi both modelled their own outfits as the lecturer described how to best frame the shots.

They had just taken a break for lunch when they were disturbed by a photographer who was very interested in renting their new robot in order to make a video for a commercial. The price he was willing to pay for the studio and the equipment was quite substantial and the lecturer thought they might learn something from watching the techniques used. “Can these cameras take video?” “For our sort of purposes yes. They aren’t quite as good as a dedicated digital camera you might use for making a feature film but they can take respectable video.”

“Have you a microphone?” Ingrid routed in the boxes and pulled out a Blue Yeti and stand. “Will this do?” She asked. The photographer’s eyes lit up. He pulled out a script and asked her to read it. Hédi tried it as well and the photographer thought her voice was more what he was looking for.

The next evening Krisztina brought one of the female music students and asked if she could make a video for YouTube. Ingrid took the controls of the robotic camera arm and played and the singer sung and played her guitar. The camera never seemed still and when the singer walked as she sang Ingrid followed her moving the arm steadily along the track.

They all inspected it and were amazed by what they had produced. Ingrid thought they should make a few more but they ought to think about makeup and lighting as well. The singer thought she’d try uploading one then see what the response was.

“We ought to cover the basics of glamour photography so Hédi could you look sultry for me? The most successful ones are not where the model is stark naked but ones that suggest they are sexually aroused and you can see it in their eyes.” “A few items of lacy underwear won’t go amiss though.” said Hédi hopefully. Eric peeled off a few more hundred euro notes and handed them out. “Or we could ask the haute couture stream to create you something individual to your body shape and taste?” Eric handed over a few more notes to the lecturer who smiled sweetly. With the promise of photographs and models to show off their designs on a website she felt sure they would be falling over themselves to come up with something suitable.

Hédi longed on a bed and tried to look sultry under all the photoflood lamps and was having a hard time until Krisztina had an idea and lay between Hédi’s thighs. “Perfect.” Cried Ingrid as Hédi’s expression ran the gauntlet of surprise, shock then a more relaxed sultry look, followed by a glow of satisfaction. “Now it’s Ingrid’s turn as a model.” cried Hédi. “Eric kiss her first.” She commanded.

Eric grinned as Ingrid’s facial expressions ran through the same as Hédi’s as both Hédi and Krisztina set to work to get Ingrid aroused for the camera. He’d save those facial expressions most definitely.

Eric took one last look round the studio. He’d enjoyed the bespoke course but thought the level of commitment needed for the higher end equipment wasn’t him. He’d set up a company to own everything. “Ingrid do you have a euro?” Ingrid scrambled in her purse and came up with a five euro note and handed it over. In exchange he gave her a bill of sale for fifty one percent of the shares of his company. “I’ll have to owe you four euros but this bill of sale gives you 51% of the company which owns the cottage, house and all the camera equipment. There is enough money in the bank to let you complete your studies and when you’ve finished you might like to come and visit me?”. She blinked then kissed him on the cheek. “Look after yourself and I’ll see you at the end of my course.”

He’d be leaving everything behind except the two small Canons which fitted nicely in his jacket pouch pocket.