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Welcome to a new section of MinnSki ... SkiCam Man! My wife gave me a GoPro camera for Christmas, and I'm just learning how to use it. Here are the basics:
- I use the GoPro Hero (5 megapixel digital camera with a wide angle lens)
- My add-on equipment is a head and chest mount
- Lithium batteries (needed for cold temperatures)
I've found that neither mount restricts my range of motion. In fact, in the recent Twin Cities Championships cross-country ski race I even forgot I had the camera on my head! Most of my initial tests have been with the camera pointing forward. I use Google Picasa for minor photo editing. Here are my first photos:
- American Birkebeiner (Hayward, Wisconsin)
- City of the Lakes Loppet (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- French Park at Sunset (Plymouth, Minnesota)
- Lester Amity (Duluth, Minnesota)
- Marine O'Brien Loppet (William O'Brien State Park, Minnesota)
- Minnesota Biathlon (Elk River, Minnesota)
- Mora Vasaloppet (Mora, Minnesota 42km classic)
- Northstar Lake (Suomi Hills in northern Minnesota near Marcell)
- Twin Cities Championships (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Here is a slideshow from the race:
The GoPro Camera has four basic options:
- One photo taken automatically every 2 seconds
- One photo taken automatically every 5 seconds
- Three photos taken quickly in succession at 2 or 5 second intervals
- Video mode (with microphone)
Please realize I am still in the "testing" phase of learning how to use my GoPro Camera effectively. My first two video efforts are linked below:
- Video: Northstar Lake (Suomi Hills in northern Minnesota)
- Video: French Park (Plymouth, Minnesota)
and - Video: Greenbush Wipeout (not me!)
and - Video from Scott Brown: City of the Lakes Skijor
- Video from Scott Brown: Leading Ladies at the Birkie
As you'll see with the videos, I'm dealing with some stabilization issues and the fact that my arms / poles come into view via the chest mount mode. The two photos below show my basic setup. Click to view full sized.
