GoPro Camera Tips!

[jhawk]

Hi all,

I'm soon to receive my GoPro camera, and I'm going to be using it to do some vlogging/filmmaking on my short trips this year, and into next year on my cross-country tour.

Wondering whether anyone here uses a GoPro to film rides/vlogs/scenery, etc. If so, what tips do you have for beginner users?

Cheers!

Jack.

 

[ufkacbln]

Garmin have a program for their Virb that allows you to put things like speed GPS Track etc on the videos

It will take in GoPro Footage as well

 

[Bobby Mhor]

If cycling..
Get one of the cheap aluminium handlebar mounts off Ebay.. HERE
if using the plastic supplied ones..sandpaper lightly the insides of each 'tightening point'( cannot remember techy term, its too early)

 

[CopperBrompton]

Shoot very short clips, and vary the angle/viewpoint. Include a few static shots. Variety is what makes a cycling video interesting.

 

[fossyant]

Blimey. Someone actually using a camera for interesting stuff rather than filming angry motorists.

What's the world coming to..

Short clips of interesting stuff.

 

[jhawk]

Blimey. Someone actually using a camera for interesting stuff rather than filming angry motorists.

What's the world coming to..

Short clips of interesting stuff.

Think I'll have to remember to watch my language when filming a hill climb though! Usually there's a healthy mix of, "Come on, get up this hill you motherfarker!" and other expletives thrown in... It's how I deal with them - self-admonishment.

Think I'll post a video or two up on here for critique/suggestions, etc.

Thanks all so far!

 

[andyfraser]

+1 for VIRB Edit. I really like being able to overlay stats onto my videos. My main custom template is way over the top though.

 

[Cringles]

I'm always afraid to set the camera up to ride past it for good shots, or a car ruining a wide shot of an empty road. Half the time I forget to even video. I usually just take still pictures. I never set out just to make a video either. I'm pretty much making them for me to look back on or show family. Not sure I have the skills or patience to try to make the great videos that many people make. I'm too much in the zone and looking around me to think of setting up a shot. . This was off my last trip.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEZuoTmJ5po

 

[MichaelW2]

Making a video that other people will enjoy watching takes a lot of effort. You need to plan some of the shots, eg, you riding towards/past the camera, if head-mounted, you need to frame the shots with care.
If any misfortune should befall you, don't stop filming unless you are unconscious or fighting off a lion, and even then, you could capture some great 'Lion eating me" footage.
Don't forget to catch some quieter moments off the bike eg doing chores around the camp, shopping in funny foreign shops, eating in funny foreign restauraunts.
People usually forget about editing, but this converts some random footage into a coherent narrative with a beginning, middle and end. The "narrative" of a cycle tour is difficult since it is mostly Just Riding Along. The modern trend is for very fast cuts, less than a second, and "creative" ie shakey camerwork. The other extreme is almost static shots that exceed Laurence of Arabia sunrise in length.

I would advise you to take a local day tour with the sole purpose of making a video short about a day tour.

 

[jhawk]

Cheers for all the tips thus far folks.

If any misfortune should befall you, don't stop filming unless you are unconscious or fighting off a lion, and even then, you could capture some great 'Lion eating me" footage.

I'll fight off the grizzly bear instead. Although fighting off a lion in rural Eastern Canada would be impressive - not for the fact that I fought off a lion, simply that the lion was there in the first place!

 

[MichaelW2]

Cougar (mnt lion) consider MTBers a tasty snack, smooth on the outside, crunchy in the middle.
This man-eater only gave up when he figured out he was eating a woman MTBer. The live footage of actual acrylic fur flying is incredible.

 

[Simon_m]

Hi Jack, I used mine when I cycled across America. Not sure what you want to know? I used to turn mine on in the morning and record the whole days riding till I got in at night. That way I didn't miss anything such as truckers nearly squashing us, dear running around, eagles, elk and the scenery. I then use FCP (final cut pro) on my mac to edit it. I had lots of spare batteries which I would charge and rotate over the coming days. (had a double battery pack expander). Also had lots of spare and very fast memory cards with big data size. Each night i would transfer the material to external hard drives through my notebook.

Problems? there is a constant small vibrating rattle, i think there is a little rubber thing i was meant to put between the camera and case. The lens case would mist up on humid mornings. Some of the plastic fittings are crap and mine broke within one day. Luckily I worked out another system which worked very well, until that wore down and had to use a small stone to hold the case in place. this kept falling out and had to find a new one now and again! One day, and on one of the most important bits I would have liked to have had sound on, the audio did not record. Just on one section though. This was when my front tire blew out on a fast downhill touching 50mph. I would have liked to have recorded the bang and my reaction. So all i got is everythign going wobbly.

I have the Hero2 for 2012. It was very good and I imageine that the newer ones aer much better. Oh, a lot of the stuff like batteries, memory cards, external drives and actualyl I think the camera, I got people to bring over from America where it is MUCH cheaper.

 

[jhawk]

Hi Jack, I used mine when I cycled across America. Not sure what you want to know? I used to turn mine on in the morning and record the whole days riding till I got in at night. That way I didn't miss anything such as truckers nearly squashing us, dear running around, eagles, elk and the scenery. I then use FCP (final cut pro) on my mac to edit it. I had lots of spare batteries which I would charge and rotate over the coming days. (had a double battery pack expander). Also had lots of spare and very fast memory cards with big data size. Each night i would transfer the material to external hard drives through my notebook.

Problems? there is a constant small vibrating rattle, i think there is a little rubber thing i was meant to put between the camera and case. The lens case would mist up on humid mornings. Some of the plastic fittings are crap and mine broke within one day. Luckily I worked out another system which worked very well, until that wore down and had to use a small stone to hold the case in place. this kept falling out and had to find a new one now and again! One day, and on one of the most important bits I would have liked to have had sound on, the audio did not record. Just on one section though. This was when my front tire blew out on a fast downhill touching 50mph. I would have liked to have recorded the bang and my reaction. So all i got is everythign going wobbly.

I have the Hero2 for 2012. It was very good and I imageine that the newer ones aer much better. Oh, a lot of the stuff like batteries, memory cards, external drives and actualyl I think the camera, I got people to bring over from America where it is MUCH cheaper.

Hi Simon,

Thanks for all that!

I'll take it all under advisement, might I be able to PM you with more specific questions?

Cheers,

Jack.

 

[steveindenmark]

Dont fill it with headbanging music.

Dont just film from the back or from the handlebar.

Include yourself in the film.

 

[Simon_m]

NP Jack, go for it. Depending on what type of ride or tour you are doing, it can be hard to set up shots. IE go ahead set camera up on the floor, cycle back, then cycle forward and past the camera lets say, then go back and get the camera. It is something in a way I wish I did, but I am sure at the time, you just want to get to the end of the day without too much extra hassle. If you aer riding in a group, then this is easier as you can hand the camera to a friend, while you slow down and they go ahead, then you cycle past, or they take the camera and film you cycling along. Of course, there aer hundreds of different camera shots you could accomplish, (i work in "film" kinda). We are thinking of taking a drone next year for some shots our support driver can do for us. Sometimes just filming your legs or the the grass you are passing, some good shots I have seen have been from "sticks" like the selfie sticks in a way. It is all good fun, although I am still editing from 2012's ride! I do edit to music which can be annoying, but it makes for better edits especially as I am doing each day as a mini 10-20minute film depending on what we saw. I do wish I filmed a lot more of the sites we saw, so think about that too.