Lightning + GoPro = Amazing

The power displayed in nature is fascinating. Thunderstorms are no exception. Using a GoPro 3, capturing stunning lightening photographs is super easy.

1. Set up your GoPro 3 in a secure place where the wind will not blow your camera over. 

 I usually use a suction cup mount, and place my camera on a second story window in my house facing whichever direction the storm is. 

2. Begin recording the storm. 

Be sure to allow for a lengthy period of time to ensure multiple lightening strikes. Storms occurring during the night are the best, but daytime can also work. Make sure you are shooting at 60 fps or greater. This will allow you to capture more of the lightning.

3. After you are finished recording, play back the footage on your computer. 

When you find a good strike, pause the video. If you are using a Mac, make the video full screen, click once anywhere on the screen to make the play/pause menu disappear, and press Command+Shift+3. This keystroke takes a screen shot of your entire screen and saves it to your desktop. 

4. Then you can place your picture into any photo editor to adjust the picture.

Here are some of the lightning strikes I've captured.

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Time Lapse: Revisited

Camalapse 3

    Creating interesting time lapse videos can be difficult. Often, the viewer becomes bored rather quickly. A great way to add some extra flare to a time lapse video is to use the Camalapse 3.

      Camalapse 3 creates a panoramic view while the attached camera is shooting time lapse footage. The camera completes a 360 degree rotation is 60 minutes.  

The Camalapse 3 is only capable of holding cameras that weigh less than 16 oz. If anything heavier is mounted to the Camalapse it will not rotate. A GoPro, however, is the perfect camera to mount to the Camalapse 3. 

The Camalapse 3 is equipped with a 1/4" male adapter on top for easy camera mounting, as well as a 1/4" female adapter on the bottom so the mounted camera and Camalapse 3 maybe connected to a tripod.

The Camalapse 3 maybe purchased on Amazon for as low as $29.99. Although DIY rigs can be crafted with a cheaper price tag, this is still a great deal.

Here is a quick compilation of time lapse footage I've accumulated over the past year. Enjoy, Share, and Comment!

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Film Fest Winner!

How to Make a Video in 60 Minutes from Jimmy McKeever on Vimeo.

Film Fest, a student wide event at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown WI, occurs during the spring semester each year. Students are permitted to submit a video of their own making in order to win monetary prizes. This year's winner of the Film Fest: "How To" category was a movie entitled "How to Make a Movie in 60 Minutes. The original idea came from Luke Tanis and Peter Duran, and the movie itself was filmed and edited by myself using a GoPro Hero 2, GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition, and Final Cut Pro X. 
Comment below and share!

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GoPros at Camp Chetek

Benjamin Turcotte, currently a student at Maranatha Baptist Bible College, has worked at Camp Chetek in Chetek Wisconsin for one week two summers ago and trained junior campers several weeks this past summer. Ben also has his own personal blog which can be found here.


During an interview with Ben, the following questions were asked in order to learn how GoPros could benefit a camp ministry.

1. What do you do there work wise?

I will be training two photographers, running the media department, and creating promotional videos as part of a business internship.

2. How is videography used in a camp ministry?

Videos are used as part of the camper week in game times and intro videos. They could also be used as part of staff training. The majority of my experience involves watching videos that camps have produced that are promotional in nature targeting younger campers or an explanation of the ministry targeted to teens and youth staff.

3. Why should videography be used in camp ministry?

Videos allow for a refined, consistent delivery of content. They can be viewed at almost any time and any place. Instead of a staff member explaining camp using works and images, a video can allow the viewer to experience camp though sight and sounds. The script can be worked through to communicate exactly what it needs to be - rambling and unclear speech is minimized.

4. How can a GoPro better enable you to capture the message the camp wishes to share?

The GoPro due to its size and ruggedness will be a great asset to capture activity times and water related activities. Instead of risking a larger, more expensive, and less rugged camera to achieve shots, the GoPro can be used in dangerous situations with minimal risk.

5. What specific camp activities can be captured with a GoPro that would not be possible with a typical camcorder?

Camp Chetek has a biannual mudpit (happening this summer), camp wide water games for Inner City Outreach week, and various cabin activities including a blob, swimming, kayaking, and tubing.  The GoPro can also be used as an action camera during game times where a camcorder would not be maneuverable. 

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Creative Angles

Getting unique angles and good looking shots can be difficult with an ordinary camera. As this video demonstrates, a GoPro enables an individual to capture himself without the help of another. The far away feel of the shot adds a great deal to the video. Great job, Andrew Whiteford, for being so creative with your GoPro Hero Black Edition.

HERO3 Test- around JH from Andrew Whiteford on Vimeo.

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GoPro in the Sky

The versatility of GoPro expands everyday as people experiment with different mounting techniques. Chest mounts, head mounts, wrist mounts, helmet mounts, and suction cup mounts are typically used for GoPro. One of the newest mounting locations is on a remote control helicopter. 

The majority of these GoPro equipped flying devices are actually referred to as Quadcopters because of the number of propeller. 4 Propellers provide adequate stability and substantial maneuverability. Because GoPro cameras are so light, they can be easily attached to these flying machines with out much difficulty.

DJI Phantom Aerial UAV Drone Quadcopter for GoPro

As illustated in these picture, GoPro quadcopters come in all shapes and sizes. Often they are homemade devices, but some copters such as the white one pictured directly above can be purchased from Amazon for only $679. This particular model contains a GPS system that will automatically fly the quadcopter back to the remote with the touch of a button. 


Quadcopters have revolutionized how GoPro cameras can be used. The following possibilities have been made available through the combination of Quadcopters and GoPro.

• High Angles
• Surveillance
• Fast movement through the air
• Professional edge
• Unlimited accessibility in hard to reach areas

Here is a video demostrating the power of this amazing piece of technology. Enjoy!

Minute Nine - Quadcopter Snowboarding from Rob Antill on Vimeo.

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GoPro Array

GoPro Cameras have amazing capabilities and new capabilities are being discovered everyday. One such feature that GoPro is being used for is called GoPro array. Basically this technique freezes the shot and give the appearance that the camera is rotating while the video is frozen. In order to achieve an effect as complex as this, have multiple GoPros is necessary. 

Typically the people who create these vides are sponsored by GoPro so they do not have to purchase 10 or more GoPros. Here is a video which I found on Vimeo that gives a good sense of what a GoPro array looks like. Enjoy!



My GoPro Array from Marc Donahue on Vimeo.

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