Any guy who has a GoPro secretly wants to be a hero with it. But even if you can’t pull off 360s and flips on your skis or mountain bike, you can create an epic video of your next adventure ripping down the mountain or catching waves in a good swell. All it takes is a little camera savvy and some practice. Here are the five tips.
Whether your GoPro is going on your SUP, snowboard, helmet, or your dog, it pays to be familiar with your mount’s movement. Before you film your shots, test the angles and the outcome.
2. Plan your story
There’s nothing wrong with driving blind and capturing the moment. But if your goal is a quality action short, lack of direction will doom you to mediocrity. specific shots that connect the dots and drive your narrative, like zooming out from a tree to catch passing action, or throwing a ball at the camera, then panning over to another key action. These will keep your raw footage rooted and flowing smoothly between shots. And it will make editing more fun.
3. Practice, practice, practice
Seems obvious, but you’ll only get that perfect shot on the go if you’re familiar with your GoPro. Take the online tutorial before heading into the field, and get a feel for operating the buttons blind. And don’t assume your angle is working.
4. Play the angles
Sticking to one field of view is boring. On a mountain bike, throw in a two-second shot that shows how the suspension is working. Or mount the camera on the back of your board, switch to your helmet, then hold it in your hand, and have your buddy follow you with a second GoPro. And get creative: duct tape and a ski pole are useful for filming any sport.
5. Shoot from this hip
The GoPro isn’t just a video camera. You can set it to take a photo every second, ten seconds, sixty seconds. Edit those into your video, or make a timelapse as you’re prepping for your shoot, executing an epic trick, or setting up camp.