So you got yourself a GoPro, what next? You could slap it on the nose of your board like every other YouTube surfer, or you could make something you’re truly stoked on and your friends will actually want to watch.
This is the video of my first GoPro session and it changed my whole perspective on GoPros, from kook boxes to legitimate video tools. Immediately I knew I wanted to create a story, since this was ultimately going to be a video that I was going to look back on to remember a surfing experience. I wanted that to include the entire process and not just the riding of the wave (I’m also taking credit for the first ride-along-behind-the-barrel shot in history at 2:45. Granted Anthony Walsh does it a lot better.
So here’s a quick list on what I look for in a good GoPro video:
1) Change perspective. Don’t just stick the camera on the nose, in fact don’t ever stick the camera on the nose unless you’re going to get barreled. Holding the camera in your hand far away from your body gives you the best chance of catching that shot that makes you feel like you’re riding along with the surfer, and that’s really what a GoPro does best.
2) Tell a story. Don’t just link together a mess of waves. Make it something memorable and you and others will want to watch it over and over again.
3) Get burned. Don’t worry about your friends dropping in on you anymore – in fact encourage it. It lends a great depth to the wave when you can see someone riding in front of you. Maybe you can even take turns.
4) Edit. Don’t just put the rides together wholesale. Pick and choose exciting moments, and if you are going to put on a whole wave try to change the camera angle a couple times during the ride – look back at the whitewash, go low/high, etc.
5) Be aware. Realize that the lens of the camera sees what you point it at. Try to pump as little as possible with the hand that holds the camera. A steady shot is crucial to not making your viewers sea-sick. Hope these tips help! I know they’ll help me if I don’t have to watch another entire YouTube surf video from the nose of someone’s board.
