Sometimes teen-aged grandchildren might feel that it isn’t cool to hang out with Grandma.  But, if you’re a cool Grandma, then it will be cool to hang with you.

And, how do I become so cool? you ask.

Simple.  Do bokeh photography with those teenagers.

Bokeh?  Bokeh?  What’s bokeh?

So glad that you asked.

Bokeh is an area of a photo that is out of focus.  (On purpose.  Not like the blury-ness caused by grandma’s shakey hands.)  Bokeh comes from a Japanese term that means “blur” or “haze.”  Hence, the area of the photo that is blurry.

See the cool picture here?  Click on it to see a larger version.  Those are examples of pictures using the bokeh technique. (Thanks to Amanda Bottoms for permission to use her fabulously creative pictures.  You’re wonderful, Amanda!)

Now, I’m not a professional photographer.  Not even close.  Which is why I was out-of-this-world delighted to discover this easy tutorial by Amanda demonstrating how to create some snazzy lookin’ bokeh photos.

(I’m warnin’ you folks right now.  Don’t go pokin’ around on her site.  It’s a dangerous one.  There are pictures of scores of decadent delights.  There are recipes where you’ll gain 30 pounds just reading them.  If you’re so weak that you succumb and make one of her divine recipes and then you gain 50 pounds, don’t come whining to me.  I warned you!)

Got scissors?  Tape?  Paper?  And a decorative punch thingie (that punches out shapes like stars or hearts). Good.  That’s all that you need — in addition to a SLR camera with a 50mm lens.

So if your teen-aged grandchild had a SLR camera, you’re good to go.  Or maybe grandpa has one that he would let you use.  Or, maybe you could ask around to see if a friend would lend one to you for the day for this fun activity.

(Mmmm . . . would this work with a consumer digital camera?  Not sure.  But it would be a great adventure to try it.)

I think I’m going to share this idea with my youngest son and his wife.  They have a digital SLR camera.  Maybe they could take some photos so that I could post them here.  If you take some bokeh photos, feel free to send them my way so that you can share them here!

(If you promise to feed your grandchild supper, that might give your grandchild just the extra amount of incentive necessary to share this activity with you.)