Tag pro tips
How to Create a GoPro Sunset Timelapse
After I created my first sunset time lapse video (Isabela Island, Galapagos), I fell in love with them. They capture the moment like nothing else. To create a sunset time lapse video, you’ll need four things:
- A steady tripod. I favor the Gorillapod SLR. It is stable enough for a heavy DSLR – so it doesn’t budge with a GoPro.
- A GoPro camera Any version will work. This video was shot with the Hero4 Black.
- Charged batteries. You should bring an extra one or two. This was shot with Wasabi batteries.
- A great location. It’s hard to beat the Bay of Fundy (Nova Scotia) for a sunset. Morden is a family favorite. We shot this footage while having a fire on the beach. You can see the occasional puff of smoke drift across the video (from left to right). Check out the full post with all the specs. Here’s the final product: Watch on YouTube
How to Create a GoPro Driving Timelapse
I’m a pretty big fan of time lapse video. Just a few months before we moved back to Canada from Ecuador, I shot a driving time lapse video in Cuenca. Here are the settings I used to compress 2 hours into 7.5 minutes.
- Camera settings: I shot one image per second (60 images / minute) at 5MP resolution.
- Choose a great location: We were first to board the bus and chose the front seats on the upper level of the double-decker bus. I mounted the camera on the front of the bus, centered horizontally. I aimed the camera straight ahead, with a slight downward angle. Because it was on the front of the bus, there were no distracting people walking by.
- Gear Used: GoPro Hero3 Silver mounted on a Pedco Ultra Clamp. I used two batteries (Wasabi) during this shoot. The first lasted about 80 minutes. The second finished out the final 30 minutes of the tour.
- Mount the camera securely: To keep the camera steady, I rely on my Ultra Clamp mount. Read my Ultra Clamp review.
- Watch the battery: Don’t worry about sticking your head into the occasional image. It’s better to delete a few images than run out of battery and not realize it. It is easy to remove a few spoiled images – and it won’t affect the final product at all. I changed the battery while the bus stopped at a look-off point over the city. Watch on YouTube See the full post with all my specs.
Eliminate GoPro Lens Fog with Anti-Fog Inserts
Even with a waterproof case, you still have to worry about moisture. Humidity inside the case can condense and cause photo-ruining fog. It’s actually pretty easy to fix. Just drop in a couple of anti-fog inserts and you’ll eliminate GoPro lens fog. You can get these inserts from GoPro or another company. I’ve been using CamKix inserts for a couple of years – with great success.
16. Eliminate Lens Fog, Shoot a Drive-lapse and Sunset Time lapse
GoPro Photographer Bio: This tip is mine (Bryan). I’m the other half of the Click Like This team.
Use GoPro Edit Templates for Fast Video Editing
GoPro Photographer Bio: Dena is half of the team here at Click Like This where we blog all about how to use your GoPro. It’s so easy to shoot hours of GoPro footage – but it can be pretty overwhelming to sort through it all and create a compelling edit of all your clips. The templates are free and are used inside of GoPro Studio (also free). Just choose the template you like and insert your clips. It’s super easy. And here’s an example of a video I created – in just a few minutes – using a template. Watch on YouTube
Shoot in the Highest Resolution Possible
Always film in the highest resolution possible (4k for the Hero 4). You can always reduce it down in post processing and, if you don’t use a gimbal, you can use the extra resolution to software stabilize a shot if you are reducing it down to a lower resolution (e.g. 4k to HD).
Use a Gimbal for Smoother Shots
I also recommend, when possible, using a gimbal. It is an extra cost but they really help in creating smooth shots when they can be used. There are several out on the market that vary in price. For GoPro, probably the obvious choice is their gimbal – the Karma Grip. See current Karma Grip price on Amazon
Managing GoPro Batteries
Battery life can be the difference between getting a shot and not getting a shot. Especially when you are on long treks and won’t be near power for an extended period. See replacement batteries on Amazon For this, I recommend the following:
- Be mindful of keeping things like WiFi on when you don’t need it as this will constantly drain the battery.
- Get extra batteries and keep them handy as your GoPro is useless without a charge.
- I also carry a large external USB charger (e.g. a Jackery) in my bag so that I can charge things from that as well. Here’s how to extend battery life.
12. Managing GoPro Batteries, Gimbal, Resolution Settings
GoPro Photographer Bio: Ryan runs HD Carolina an agency that films things to see and do in the Carolinas. His suggestions are based on the Hero4. We use the GoPro with a lot of the filming we do for our episodes about things to see and do in the Carolinas:
Understand Your GoPro’s Resolution and Field of View
GoPro Photographer Bio: Dylan runs a San Francisco tour agency called Orange Sky Adventures. He uses a GoPro Hero 3+ for the majority of their web shots. For new GoPro users, I would recommend learning the difference between 1080, 2.7k and 4K, and knowing how each setting affects your shot. Narrow, Wide and SuperView angles are equally important. Basically, when a shot comes up in the field – whether it’s a bug up-close or a sunset in the distance – you need to know which setting works best. Nothing is worse than recording an awesome clip, only to see it’s not-so-awesome in replay. To learn, you can watch YouTube tutorials, or better yet, practice in real life. You’ll be a pro in no time. More reading: Guide to GoPro Settings: Resolutions, Frame Rates and FOV Here’s a vid we’re soon to drop. It’s shot entirely with GoPro 3+. Watch on YouTube