First of all, the GoPro camera is not a good camera for filming POV (Point of View) shots of your layout. It's a nice camera but the lack of exposure control, wide lens, no focus control are real draw backs. Let's face it, most of us don't want to shell out $400 for another small video camera with all those features you really need to shoot the layout. OK, you have a GoPro and still want to use it to get that engineers view of your layout. About nine years ago when I got my first of many GoPro cameras I wanted to see how my layout looked from a engine. First I needed a stable platform to mount the camera on. I had an old Lionel FM Trainmaster frame with six wheel trucks. No motors so I could push the "camera car" around the layout with a working engine. I wanted an evening shot so dropped the lighting way down. That didn't work as the camera made up of the lack of light by opening up the lens more. Also the lens is so big you could see the ceiling and the lights. Also the color was bad because of the fluorescent tubes. Most of these light are no where close to daylight. In television we called them dead peoples light. They are way to cool to get good color. A few months ago I was going through all my old raw video and I came across this test shot. I started messing around with it to see what could be done. First of all I really don't like seeing anything but the layout. I know you can't make it perfect but seeing the ceiling and those lights was the worst. I cropped the shot both top and bottom. I chose to use 2:35:1 as an aspect ratio. That's what aspect ratio CinemaSope and Panavision are. That worked well. Then I tackled to color and exposure problems. First I dropped the exposure then cooled the shot down and added a little green to the video. That part takes the longest time. Most edit system have some kind of color, exposure control and many have a crop control. I use Final Cut so it was easy to adjust things. Try this if you want to shoot with a GoPro. I think I'm on my forth one as I use them for diving. The one used for this shot was the very first model they came out with. Their's a vast difference in quality of picture now. Take a look at the video. I hope it will help you win that first Emmy. Don
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