How To Paint Light With A GoPro Hero3 Black

Update: If you want to try this, do not update your Hero3 Black with the new

app firmware 3.03. The new firmware disables the exposure lock on

.5 and 1 second time-lapse interval modes. So we will be back to auto everything.

As you might guess I am not happy with this, I updated my Hero3

not knowing the exposure lock feature was being taken away.

Now I have to figure out how to back my camera up.

 

 A couple months ago I wrote a post about the Siesta Key Drum Circle.

In it I used a GoPro Hero3 Black Edition to get some cool light

painting still photos and time-lapses, check out the video click here.

So how did I do it?

Short answer, long exposure still photos.

Long answer, you have to trick the all automatic POV camera.

The GoPro Hero3 Black Edition is the latest in a series of

"point of view" POV cameras made for sports and adventure

photography.  It's made to be idiot proof, so it's all automatic.

This new camera has a much better chip then previous models

so it is much better in low light.  A new feature to this model

is that the exposure will lock in time-lapse interval mode (stills).  

So if you want to do light painting, you need to get the longest

possible exposure, which is a half second at 2.8 at ISO400.

When you start your time-lapse the exposure will lock on the first frame.

So, if you put a lens cap on the camera, making it shoot black,

the auto exposure will open all the way up.  Then pop off

the lens cap and do your light dancing.

I set the time-lapse interval mode to a half second so

that the camera is always shooting with no pause in between shots.

Important note, if you start a time-lapse during the day
with the lens cap on, all your photos will be overexposed.
This trick is only for night shooting.

Below are some sample stills and camera setting shots.

I made a companion video to this blog post with new light painting

time-lapse shots, check it out here. 

Kaua'i

There are two kinds of people on Kaua'i, those that see the chickens and 

those that pay them no mind.  Of course, yours truly shot tons of photos

of the wild ubiquitous island residents, marking me as a main-lander.

Oh well, so much for fitting in.

The Hawaiian island of  Kaua'i is amazing.  A treasure.

If you can, go, but be cool and leave her as nice as you found her.

Below are some photos and a list of links to YouTube videos I shot on our trip.

Kalalau Valley Kauai Time-Lapse 

Kilauea Lighthouse Time-Lapse 

Hanalei Bay Time-Lapse 

Kauai Green Turtle Close Encounter

Kauai Sunset 

Ke'e Beach to Hanalei Time-Lapse Drive

Kalapaki Beach Kauai GoPro Time-Lapse 

 Po'ipu Beach Panning Time-Lapse

Lihue Marriott Resort Room Tour

GoPro Hero3 Battery Backdoor Fix

I'm loving the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition,

but there are a few things that drive me crazy.

Like trying to open the battery back door, unless you

have long finger nails or a tool it's hard to open.

So I have come up with a fix inspired by the tab on the Hero3's

new battery.  Here is my video showing how I did it.  Click here.

If you make the tab small enough, there should be no problem

fitting the LCD or Battery Backpack on the camera.

Green Bee Macro Deconstruction

Walking through my garden I noticed a dead green bee.

And of course I felt the need to photograph it.

This green bee macro deconstruction was shot with a Canon 7D

and an MP-E 65mm.

I shot all these photos with natural light and very narrow

depth of field. 

I created a multimedia slideshow video out of the pictures

check it out here.

Want to see some "live" green bees?
check out this video I shot a few years ago.

 

GoPro Hero3 Black Review and First Look

UPDATE: I have a new post about speculation surrounding a new Hero 4
Check it out, click here.
and a new video check it out, click here.

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I bought a new GoPro Hero3 Black Edition a few months ago, and

have finally given a little thought to how it's going.

Here is the link to my review on Youtube, click here. 

If you buy any of the new Hero3 models you need to check to

make sure the firmware is up to date, check here. 

I have made a few videos using the Hero3 Black Edition and

will be making more in the months to come.

Check out the playlist on my Youtube Channel.

Below are some photos of the Hero3

If you have any question please leave them here or over

in the comments section on the video.

GoPro Hero Family Portrait

Smaller and lighter.

The Hero3 Black Edition comes with the wifi remote.

New water proof case latch.

Flat lens on water proof case.