Ask any photographer what the most versatile camera is today, and I'm guessing a strong majority of them will say GoPro.
When it comes to having a camera that can go just about anywhere - from skydiving to snorkeling to all sorts of adventures in between - there simply are no rivals.
Of course, buying a GoPro is a lot easier than actually understanding how to use it to take high-quality photos and videos.
This quick tutorial seeks to teach you a few tricks of the trade to help you get started in GoPro photography.
GoPro Gear Tip: Go Without the Housing
I've encountered plenty of people over the years that wonder why their GoPro photos aren't very crisp and sharp.
Though there are plenty of reasons why photos are blurry, with GoPros, the plastic housing that covers the lens is a prime culprit.
Go figure - a layer of plastic over the lens causes images to degrade...
This isn't to say that the images are terrible; but if you have a particularly epic shot in mind and you want the highest image quality, ditch the housing.
GoPro cameras are built like tanks and they're waterproof, so unless you're doing something that poses a significant danger to your GoPro, take the housing off, get the shot, and put the housing back on.
Editor's Tip: Having trouble finding the GoPro accessories you need? Find GoPro accessories right here.
GoPro Photography Composition Tip: Use Different Perspectives
If ever there was a camera that allows photographers to capture scenes from unique perspective and interesting angles, a GoPro is it.
Most people take photos from their eye level, which is fine, but since that's what most of us do most of the time, even the most iconic scenes can look a little boring without some thought about the perspective from which the photo is taken.
Instead, grab your GoPro and get low for some worm's eye view shots.
By dropping the eye level, your photos have a feeling of being much broader with subjects that look larger and more powerful.
Conversely, by finding high vantage points and shooting down toward the subject, you minimize its size, but show of the scale of its surroundings.
Heck, you can put your GoPro on a GoPole, strap it to your ankle, put it on your bike helmet, wear it on your chest, or attach it to a tree to capture unique low or high-angle photos and videos.
If you aren't sure what perspective would be best for the shot you want, simply experiment. Take more shots than you think you need and cull the bad ones later. Just be sure you have a spare memory card or two on hand.
GoPro Camera Settings Tip: Try Different Modes
GoPros are excellent little still cameras and video cameras.
Models like the Hero6 Black (shown above) allow you to capture still photos, bursts, looping videos, time lapses, nighttime videos, and shoot 4K video at 60fps.
So rather than taking normal videos and still photos, give your GoPro's different shooting modes a try.
Burst mode is great for figuring out what perspectives are the most dramatic for your photos. Naturally, burst mode is also a good choice for capturing action shots.
Where in previous GoPro models you had to worry about having plenty of light for burst mode to get sharp images, with the Hero6 Black, that's no longer an issue.
That's due in large part to the new GP1 chip that enables the Hero6 Black to operate at twice the video frame rates, offer improved image quality, achieve better low-light performance, and produce images with improved dynamic range. Learn more about this amazing camera in the video above by GoPro.
Put the GoPro in burst mode, fire off a ton of shots as you move the camera around, and see what you get.
Alternatively, try photo time lapse mode to capture fewer shots over a longer period of time as a means of recording your adventures. Either way, experimenting with the camera's many different functions in various situations is a must!
Editor's Tip: Need to upgrade your camera? Learn why the GoPro Hero6 Black is such a good camera.
Wrapping It Up
It's often said that the best camera is the one you have with you.
Since GoPros are incredibly small and mobile, there's really no excuse not to have it with you pretty much all the time.
And don't think that GoPros are only for adventure photography, either. You can tackle street photography, portraiture, landscapes, and just about anything in between with a GoPro.
The more photos you take, the better the photographer you will become, so pick up a GoPro, keep it handy, give these GoPro photography tips a try, and see what magic you can create.