There is a lot of jargon that may even confuse an average person, things like frames per second, codec, time-lapse, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recording your footage in a specific scene should match with the most appropriate settings in your camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Navigating through the different camera settings can be a confusing task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hence in this post, I will give you advice on how to shoot and what settings to use in the following 12 activities and scenes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Skiing and snowboarding<\/li>
- Kayaking<\/li>
- Diving and underwater<\/li>
- Selfies<\/li>
- Jumping shots<\/li>
- Vlogging<\/li>
- Travel<\/li>
- Nature shots daytime<\/li>
- Nature shots nighttime<\/li>
- Night lapse<\/li>
- Fireworks<\/li>
- Sunsets<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
1- Using your GoPro for Skiing and Snowboarding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"GoPro](\"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/GoPro-Ski.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSkiing and snowboarding<\/a> are rugged activities that require proper care when using any action camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Any slight mistake may lead to knocks that may cause serious damage to your camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To prevent such occurrences from happening, you need to make sure that your camera is firmly mounted on the desired place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suitable GoPro to Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make sure that you use a waterproof camera in this adventure. Starting with GoPro Hero 5, all succeeding GoPro models are waterproof. You will not need a waterproof housing in this case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you use any non-waterproof model, ascertain that you have included a waterproof housing to cover your camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I recommend using the Hero8 Black<\/a>. The HyperSmooth 2.0 gives very steady and smooth footage alongside the stunning quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Connect your GoPro to the App<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before starting, connect your GoPro camera to your smartphone App. This will allow you to do several things including receiving the live feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you are done with filming your activity, the GoPro App will give you options to jolt around your footage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can edit the videos and overwrite the audio with free copyright-free music to give your video a more professional touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Afterwards, you can easily share the videos to your Instagram stories directly from within the App.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Navigating the GoPro Settings for Skiing and Snowboarding<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With the more recent GoPro cameras e.g. Hero8 Black<\/a>, you don’t have to worry much about the exposure at least during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The auto-exposure<\/strong> mode in these models, getting stunning footage is what you are assured of without tweaking anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it’s so cloudy and the sky is merely visible, you may find the need to fine-tune and increase the exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you choose to film in 360\u00b0 with the GoPro Max 360 or Fusion 360<\/a>, you will later have lots of options on what you can do to your videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most importantly, you can reframe the video in the GoPro App and get a portion of any angle you may desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Field of View<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Being on mountains and hills, there are a lot of scenic features that need to be captured in your video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do not think about your actions only, consider the all-round view of your skiing and snowboarding area, and choose the wide or linear field of view\/digital lens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This digital lens view is enough to get a good representation of your background without necessarily losing focus on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, when it comes to editing and post-production, this view gives you far-reaching footage that can easily be cropped without losing lots of details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frame Rate Choice and When to Use During Skiing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to filming intense actions like skiing, the higher the frame rates you use, the more smooth your footage will turn out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
60 frames per second is generally a good option to kick you off in skiing. However, to make the best out of your adventure, you need to tweak the frame rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slow Motion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Go for 120 fps if you need to do a slow-motion video right within the camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your GoPro model supports 240 fps, then that means you can get super slow-motion videos; up to 8 times slower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For capturing slow-motion, I recommend using either 4K60, 2.7K120 or 1080p240<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I would personally stick to 2.7K at 120fps, which is the middle ground. I would also set the ISO between 100 and 200<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The higher the frame rate, the darker the image will become, this is something to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using slow-motion is particularly stunning when filming with your friends from the ski level or using a selfie stick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using slow-motion mode will compromise the quality of your video, but not that much and you may even go without noticing that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capturing Photos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Skiing and snowboarding can be very interesting and filming makes it even better. One thing you need to keep in mind is to have some still photos from this adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where Time Lapse mode<\/strong> becomes so useful, I always set mine to capture every five seconds. Doing this will give you photos in a more natural look, captured while racing with your pet on the skis or snowboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When filming a friend making crazy jumps with the ski or snowboard, use the photo burst mode<\/strong> for impressive results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you forgot to take any photos during your adventure, worry not because the GoPro App got you covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use the<\/strong> frame grab<\/strong> option in the GoPro app to save photos directly from your footage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting your GoPro<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mounting your camera is key in making sure you reduce vibrations and shakings as much as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whichever mounting location you choose, make sure the screws are fastened properly and tight enough to keep the camera in place. (Not so tight to break the plastic in place).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are three ideal mounting locations you may be interested in depending on the POV (Point of View) that you are looking for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Chest Mount<\/strong> \u2013 This is my most preferred mounting location for Skiing. Having your camera on the chest reduces the shakes and swings that are caused by a head mount or selfie stick use. However, I dislike chest mounting in snowboarding.<\/li>
- Selfie Mount<\/strong> \u2013 This is a very nice option for snowboarding especially on solo trips. Just get more creative with the selfie stick and swing it around to get different view areas.<\/li>
- Head (Helmet) Mount<\/strong> \u2013 This is a very ideal option when you want to film whatever your eye is seeing while skiing or snowboarding.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Whichever mounting option you use, always turn the image stabilization on if it’s supported by your chosen resolution and frame rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which Accessories Can you Use?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Selfie Stick<\/strong> – I use the GoPro ElGrande<\/a> for taking footage of myself when snowboarding, it is useful if you don’t have a 360-degree camera like the GoPro Max<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Camera Tether<\/strong> – Having this accessory is more of a safety measure. if the mounting on your camera breaks, the camera has a fallback option. Just make sure the tether strings are fastened nicely on a stable end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use Voice Control<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you have GoPro Hero5 and later models, always activate the voice command<\/strong> when filming in such adventures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a nice way to control the camera when you’re hands are busy with the ski poles or holding a selfie stick when snowboarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n2- Using your GoPro for Kayaking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"GoPro](\"https:\/\/actiongadgetsreviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/GoPro-Kayak.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFor you to get that perfect kayak footage and photos, you need to ensure you have checked the following conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pre-visit the Area Before the Big Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you don’t live around your kayaking area, it most definitely that you are not familiar with the place especially in terms of sunrise and sunset direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although you can get such information directly from your smartphone, it’s good to go there physically and also note the water level and meanders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the kayak moves, just paddle gently when the water surface is calm to allow smooth footage and avoid sitting at a still place since the ripples will affect the reflections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is there Enough Lighting?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In most places, morning and evenings provide the best lighting conditions for kayaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of that, we have the sunrise and sunset during those periods. Shooting the sunrise\/sunset and its reflection on the water surface will give you a stunning shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In low light conditions, you can consider having a light accessory to brighten up your shots. Also, mounting on the helmet provides a good option in such a situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suitable GoPro to Use<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is not a battle for the best among all, rather, choosing the GoPro camera to carry with you in this expedition will depend on what you want to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I recommend considering both the Hero8 Black and MAX 360. Hero8 will give you higher resolutions resulting in impressive video quality while maintaining a standard look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the GoPro MAX will give you a 360\u00b0 footage which has more editing options than a standard video. When kayaking with your friends, it’s always nice to have a MAX do the shooting in SuperView mode to capture all the actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GoPro Mounting Accessories for Your Kayak<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For the GoPro MAX camera, I find it best to mount it the kayak with a pole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can use the MAX Grip and Tripod<\/a> from GoPro. One thing to ensure when using a pole is that it should be thin enough to guarantee a perfect camera alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When using the Hero8 Black, I usually mount it on my helmet and let my hands do the kayaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having your camera mounted on the chest may reduce the view angle because a good portion of your kayak will be in the close-up scene to the camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capturing Photos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Always ensure that your lens is clean and dry, carry a lens cleaner with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are using the Hero5 Black or later camera models, it’s good that you take your photos in the RAW format since it will give you more editing options later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tweak your lens to around -0.5 exposure compensation to allow your lens to get more details in low lighting conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Voice Command & Time Lapse Photos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is the best time to avoid pressing the shutter button at all costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More often than not, pressing this button will result in minor shakes which may result in blurred photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make use of the voice control to command your GoPro to take photos or better still, use Time Lapse photos to capture shots in intervals. I always set mine to capture a shot every 5 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hero8 Black Video Setting for Smooth Footage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It’s very easy to get a shaky video when mounting your camera to the helmet as I recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, keep in mind that the camera lens will be recording whatever you are seeing and every head movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As such, it is important to keep your head straight and focus on what is important. Whenever you need to turn your head, do so slowly and gently having the camera in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I use a video resolution of 2.7K at 60fps in an aspect ratio of 4:3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
HyperSmooth 2.0 should be turned on and keep the ISO at a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 400.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With an exposure compensation of -0.5, I am well assured of getting more details even when the lighting becomes darker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Screengrabs with the MAX<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Shooting a 360\u00b0 footage with the GoPro MAX will give you editing options of screengrabs from 5.7K high-resolution videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The photo qualities from the screen grabs are of decent quality and can be shared to social media directly from within the GoPro App.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n3- Diving and Underwater Photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before considering any underwater adventure, make sure that your GoPro camera is waterproof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the release of Hero5 Black, GoPro has been making waterproof cameras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Selfie Mount<\/strong> \u2013 This is a very nice option for snowboarding especially on solo trips. Just get more creative with the selfie stick and swing it around to get different view areas.<\/li>
- Chest Mount<\/strong> \u2013 This is my most preferred mounting location for Skiing. Having your camera on the chest reduces the shakes and swings that are caused by a head mount or selfie stick use. However, I dislike chest mounting in snowboarding.<\/li>