After watching my video productions, people frequently ask:
“How did you take that shot?”
Skip to 1:44 of this video clip to see what they are usually referring to.
No, I don’t borrow a crane from a high budget filmmaker.
Short answer: I depend on a stick called a monopod, typically used for photography.
Long Answer: From my personal experience, the best monopod is the REI Hiker Shock Light Staff. Its foam grip and ability to extend its reach (for higher angles) is impressive. However, this monopod’s greatest feature, compared to several other monopods (who claim to be perfectly compatible for the GoPro camera) is its stability. Most monopods you encounter become less reliable the longer the stick is. Fortunately, with the REI Hiker Shock Light Staff, the monopod remains stable throughout each extension.
The best example of the monopod in action is my experience at the JP Morgan Corporate Chase Challenge in 2011. In this video, you will see the unique camera angles I captured while on the run.
This is how the monopod looks with my GoPro camera attached.
To be fair, there are two major cons with this monopod:
First, the price. Paying about $60 for a stick seems ridiculous. But when you are able to capture precious moments in a fun, unique and reliable way – the investment is worth it.
Second, you will need to make an additional purchase: the GoPro Tripod Mount. This is what allows you to install the GoPro onto the monopod securely with effective stabilization. It costs about $8.
Overall, when anyone and everyone can produce and share content, this expensive monopod provides you more creative shots and opportunities to differentiate your video productions from the rest.