the point of view camera

A great video production tool, but not the primary tool

By Holly Trickel

As a video professional who works and plays on the mountain, I see countless point-of-view cameras like the GoPro strapped to helmets, ski poles, boards and more.

But when you're telling a story through video, there's a misconception about these cameras; that they are a primary tool for capturing that sweet 360 or method air. Many people think they can strap on a GoPro, record themselves performing an action sport, come home and piece together a professional video. Sure, if you are proficient with an editing program, you can import your POV footage, string together your best shots, put music to your video, export, upload and share it. However, if you are trying to create a more in-depth piece, a story, the reality is one camera angle doesn't tell the whole story. It doesn't place the subject in context with his or her environment.

Instead, the POV camera most often should be used as a supplemental tool to capture footage in situations where a larger camera wielded by a human doesn't work. For example, on top of a car or mounted to a surfboard. 

I recently created a video about the Burton U.S. Open moving its event to Vail. I first wrote a script to determine the shots I needed to tell my story. I used my handheld, high definition camera and tripod for primary coverage of the event. I shot athletes in the half pipe and slope style course, landscape, interviews and more.

Since I was telling the story, I pointed the camera at myself, standing next to a slope style feature. I wore a wireless lavaliere microphone and attached the receiver to my handheld camera, hit record and voiced my script on-camera. Because I wanted consistent audio, I narrated the remainder of my script in the same location.

At the start gate tent, I mounted a GoPro to capture snowboard competitors as they lined up to drop into the course. I used the GoPro here because space was limited and I couldn't set up my tripod and handheld camera. I set it to time-lapse mode and captured some cool b-roll. What in the world is b-roll, you ask? In the video production world, it's a term for footage; footage that coincides with the story. The GoPro footage supplemented my story, but it didn't tell the whole story.

What about audio? To tell a story, and not just string together disparate footage, you'll need good audio.

Much of the editing I do involves telling a story, which means either narrating a video, interviewing someone who tells the story, or both. I need high definition video as well as clean, high-quality audio. POV cameras record audio, poorly, much like smart phones.

If you want to include an interview with the pro surfer catching big waves, you need a microphone to record good audio. That means you need a camera with audio inputs for the microphone. Most professional video cameras include an input for XLR, a type of audio cable. POV cams often lack professional audio inputs.

There is no doubt that these popular and versatile POV cams have revolutionized action sports. Whether playing on the river, in the ocean or on a mountain, one can capture the true essence of those action-packed moments. The fact that they can be mounted anywhere, are waterproof and shoot full HD puts them in high demand. What's more? The price point is relatively inexpensive in the neighborhood of $300.

Or, you can become a community producer at High Five Access Media and check one out for free. Just sayin'.

Find out more about becoming a community producer and our Media Education workshops, which are offered every month.

Watch a short GoPro tutorial created by HFAM Community Producers by clicking here.