Vandit Kalia, 4 March 2025
Video has replaced photography as the medium of choice for most divers, and understandably so: it is easier to tell compelling stories with videos than with single images, where the perfect opportunity often simply does not occur. This has driven the popularity of GoPros and other similar action cameras, which are near-ubiquitous on most dives these days.
However, shooting video is one thing – shooting video that is interesting is something else entirely. So without further ado, here are some tips to take better videos with your GoPro.
1) Set up your camera properly: I will handle Go Pro settings in a separate post, but in general, these are the items you need to think about:
- White Balance: ‘Native’ if you plan to post process, ‘Auto’ if not
- Lens: Linear for small/medium subjects, Wide for large subjects that fill the frame (ignore the other options)
- Profile: ‘Log’ if you plan to post-process, ‘HDR’ otherwise – you can also get by with SD for lower-contrast scenes, such as at depth.
- Resolution: You only need HD for sharing online. 4k or even 5.3k gives you greater resolution for that video masterpiece, and other than file size, there is no real reason to shoot lower res. You can always down-res a video – you cannot up-res it as well, though
- Frame rate: Higher frame rates reduce apparent camera shake, so try to shoot at 60fps if you can. For macro shots, even 120fps is an option
- Exposure compensation: -0.5 if you want to edit your images, or 0 otherwise
- ISO range: I go with 100-1600. At 1600, the result can be quite noisy, though and I know people who don’t go beyond 800.
2). Create multiple profiles: Obviously, you cannot change your camera settings once it inside the housing. So what you should do is create various profiles with a combination of camera settings mentioned above covering each shooting scenario. For example, I have one for my general shooting, one for big stuff, one for medium stuff and one for macro. By holding the power button and then pressing the shutter button, I can toggle between the various profiles and quickly have the camera set up for what I am trying to video.
3). Use a light, if you can: Yes, lights are expensive, lights are bulky but look at the bright side – they aren’t as expensive as strobes for photography. Even a couple of 4000 lumen lights with a broad angle of view will really make your videos pop.
4). Filters can be of moderate use without lights: At relatively shallow depths, where there is a lot of light, red filters can do a surprisingly good job of compensating for the blue cast underwater – but then, so can post-processing. As you go deeper and start to lose more light across the entire color spectrum, I find red filters to be less useful as the light absorbed by them strains the overall abilities of the GoPro’s sensor. I think it is better to just use post processing at that point, but you can experiment and see what works for you.
5). Shoot with intent: Don’t just aim your camera at everything and blindly hit record. Try to think in terms of “shots” – each clip that you record is a shot, and you should be able to provide a clear statement explaining the purpose of each shot: “a manta going over my head” or “a large school of fusiliers swimming by“.
6). Keep your clips short: Unless the action is really amazing, audiences tend to get bored with long clips showing the same thing. Ask yourself, how long does this clip need to be in order for me to get the intent across. And typically, the answer is a few seconds only. No one wants to see a 30 second clip of a fish just swimming around.
7). Avoid camera shake: Shaky videos are fine if you are shooting a horror movie set in New Jersey – not so much for underwater. Practice keeping your arm steady and compensating for your body’s natural up/down movement when breathing (short clips are also easier to keep steady. Just sayin’). If you are shooting macro, try to support your camera if you can
8). Avoid excessive panning: used selectively, panning is a great way to show marine life in its environment. However, excessive panning is distracting and also can cause issues with changes in white balance when the angle of light changes. So where possible, try to keep the camera steady and centred on the action. Shoot multiple clips to follow the action, if need be – this also lets you change your perspective.
9). Get close: Action cameras like GoPros have a very large field of view. So with most moderate to small sized marine animals, you really need to be close to the subject, else it appears like a faint smudge in the distance. And as with photography, the more the water column between you and the subject, the less sharpness and contrast you get. So get close. And remember to use a Linear field of view instead of Wide for small to medium sized objects.
10). Don’t chase: I see too many people with action cameras on telescoping sticks swimming like crazy towards passing sharks or jabbing those sticks right onto the face of a swimming turtle. And as a result, the animal just turns and swims away. Not only does this ruin your shot, it also spoils the sighting for everyone else. So when shooting marine animals, don’t approach them directly. Try to move in at an angle. Use slow, smooth movements – nothing sudden, fast or jerky. And when photographing them, try not too loom directly over them: try to keep your body angled away from them and slightly to the side. Lastly, if you are using a telescoping stick, manoeuvre it closer slowly, so as not to spook/stress the animal. Remember: no photo or video is worth harassing wildlife.
Good luck and happy shooting. And if you have a tip that works for you, do share!