PhotoBlitz.US: Level Two: The Mini-Blitz

The stars have aligned in your favor and all is right in the world. You actually have a break in your day. Ahhhhh, brilliant. But what to do with that extra 30 minutes, or -- miracle! -- full hour of spare time? Take a nap! That's always a great idea, one that we totally support. But you're also a rock-star creative type, so now what do you do? Skip the nap, take your place among your always-sleepy PhotoBlitz team, Tim and Lisa, and grab your camera. It's time to Level Up and do a Mini-Blitz.

The Mini-Blitz is a little more involved than a Blitzette, but still short enough to squeeze into your schedule. You'll want to grab your camera for this. A small point-and-shoot digital is an ideal camera to have on hand. One with a tele/wide feature is nice, but not necessary. If you only have your cell phone, use it. (My Samsung Solstice has just two mp and the resolution is good enough for 4x6 prints and web posts.) If you've got of those tiny spy cameras on a keychain and it works, use it. Now, if all you have is a film camera...use it anyway. With film, though, you might have to be a bit more conservative in your shots 'cause processing ain't cheap (unless you've got a darkroom or a trust fund). But when doing a Mini-Blitz, you probably won't be shooting more than one roll, if that. So bust out that Holga and do your thing.

Great, now you've got a little time and you've got your pocket camera; all you need is a location. It could be a small park, an outdoor shopping plaza, or even a building that has always caught your eye. It should be something large enough so that you'll find a variety of shots, but small enough so that you can easily cover it in the free time you have. You can't Mini-Blitz Disneyland; you can Mini-Blitz the little Farmer's Market downtown.

The Blitzette was about taking quick, random shots throughout the day, to keep you shooting and in practice. The Mini-Blitz goes a little further. The extra time and focus on one place allows you to start extending your creativity. Slow down, look around. Take the shot from various angles. Really observe your location, and think about how you will approach it. You don't have to come out with all cameras blazing. Relish the luxury of lingering, considering, and taking beaucoup de pics, all in one place. How conveeeeenient! Love it already, don't ya?

Okay, so what's the goal? Three good shots. This is totally do-able. If you have a digital camera, you may have an advantage because you'll probably take more pics than if you're shooting film. But either way, you've got time to shoot with some deliberation and, if you concentrate, you'll get some good pics. At least three. After you get a few Mini-Blitzs under your belt, you'll start getting more than just three... and that will be the beginning of photo awesomeness!

Maestro Tim, a master of the Mini-Blitz, took all the pics you see here during a recent Mini-Blitz after the day job. The location: Lake Evans at Fairmont Park in the ever-cool Riverside, California. The time: about one hour. The results: Sweet!