Mellow Wanderer

Tag: GoPro

The Best Travel Camera To Explore Your World

When GoPro released its Max 2 360 camera this fall, I paid close attention to the early reviews. Nearly every article and YouTube video raved about its capabilities, and PC Magazine even named it an Editors’ Choice as the top action camera on the market. That sealed my decision.

MY NEW MAX 2

GOPRO PHOTO

I’m deeply rooted in the GoPro ecosystem, having owned multiple models over the past decade. The cameras are compact, rugged, and easy to pack, and transferring photos and videos to my iPhone takes only seconds. The Max 2 continues that tradition, but the real game-changer is its 360-degree recording. Think of it as capturing multiple camera angles in a single shot—an enormous creative advantage for travelers who don’t want to haul gear.

The Max 2 offers GoPro favorites like timewarp, timelapse, and star trails, so I don’t lose any features I rely on. The only downside is editing: GoPro’s Quik app lets me adjust individual 360 clips, but it can’t yet assemble multiple clips into a seamless timeline. GoPro says an update is coming, and I’m looking forward to it. The good news is that shooting, saving, and sharing are still fast, intuitive, and beginner-friendly.

I tested the Max 2 on a recent trip to Key West. Along with the camera, I packed GoPro’s nine-foot invisible pole, sold separately. The camera’s software automatically removes the pole from your shots, creating a floating-camera effect that feels like drone footage—without a drone. It’s impressive, especially when filming from boats, beaches, and boardwalks.

Video of GoPro Max 2 in 360 timelapse mode. This is one clip with movement created in the GoPro Quik mobile app.

Drone effect photo using the invisible pole. You see its shadow but not the pole in my hand.

Press play to see how the Max 2 performs while I walk the beach with the invisible selfie pole.

The GoPro Max 2 retails for $499, but I used my GoPro subscription to save $100. I applied the same discount to the invisible pole, knocking $17 off the $153 price. For what it delivers, the camera is absolutely worth it. It has already become my go-to travel camera, and it now comes with me on every trip.

If you want a single lightweight camera that captures everything—selfies, landscapes, action, underwater scenes, and drone-style footage—the Max 2 is the one travel camera you can’t live without.
Acadia National Park: Starry, Starry Nights!

I played with the stars over Acadia National Park not knowing what the results would be. Boy, was I ever pleasantly surprised. Our rented cottage in the small village of Bernard, Maine is by the water in an area called Duck Cove.

Light pollution is virtually nil at night so it’s a good environment not only to view stars but to photograph them. I’m mostly a video guy.

GoPro is my camera of choice because it’s so easy to travel with compared to a DSLR camera. I fixed my GoPro to a tripod in star trail mode, focused the lenses on the night sky, which was clear but with a crescent moon off to the east providing a faint backlight.

The camera rolled for about 90-minutes, about the life of the battery. An external battery would have added considerable time. I’ll remember that for my next attempts. The video below is short as a result, but I like it. Let me know what you think!
Italy In Motion: Observing Life One Frame At A Time

Whenever I visit a place with stunning landscapes and cityscapes, I feel compelled to capture them in timelapse video. My camera of choice is the compact and easy-to-pack GoPro Hero. While widely known as an action camera for adventure sports, the GoPro is an incredibly versatile travel companion. Instead of lugging around a backpack full of camera gear, I simply slip my lightweight GoPro into a pocket along with a foldable mini tripod, and off I go.

Recently, I spent seven weeks in Italy as part of a university-based adult learning program. Unlike the typical tourist on a week-long vacation, I had the luxury of wandering at my own pace, fully immersing myself in Italian life. There’s nothing quite like selecting a spot, observing the rhythm of daily life, and capturing it in timelapse. You never know what you’ll discover. One thing I quickly learned is that Italians are always on the move, day and night. The streets and squares of Rome pulse with constant activity.

One early evening in Piazza del Popolo, I watched as locals strolled through, stopping for gelato and chatting with friends. At the center of the piazza stands a towering Egyptian obelisk, originally built in the 13th century BC under Ramses II, accompanied by a grand fountain. It serves as both a focal point and a social gathering place, where carefree children climb and play on the lion statues at its base. To me, that’s a striking sight—an ancient relic turned into a modern-day playground.

In a similar blend of old-world charm and contemporary culture, just across the piazza, a group of teenagers transformed the space between twin 17th-century churches into an impromptu dance floor. With music blaring from a boombox, they executed acrobatic breakdancing moves, blending history with modern expression in an unexpected yet mesmerizing way.

Throughout my journey, I encountered countless other fascinating moments. Two seagulls perched on a ledge of the Colosseum seemed to pose for excited tourists, oblivious to the fact that gladiators once fought for their lives on this very ground. A young couple expressed their love at a romantic lighthouse overlook on the island of Capri. And in Venice, the golden glow of sunset bathed the waterways as gondolas carried couples on the dreamlike journey they had always imagined.

Observing and capturing these moments in brilliant timelapse is not just a passion of mine—it’s a way to keep the journey alive forever.
Spring Time Wonder: How Butterflies Are Made

I’m awestruck watching life transform. The incredible metamorphosis from a six-legged monarch caterpillar into a two-winged butterfly is simply extraordinary, and its beauty is mesmerizing. I set up my own backyard kit to document this process with my GoPro camera. First, I placed two caterpillars and cuttings from a milkweed plant, their favorite food, inside my screen cage. As they feasted on milkweed, I patiently awaited for the magical transformation, which I estimate took several days.

At a certain point, one of the caterpillars formed a chrysalis, appearing dark and mature, while the other seemed poised to undergo its own transformation. Sensing the timing was right—a pure guess on my part—I positioned the camera, activated the timelapse mode, and let it roll. Then, I stepped away. Hours later, upon returning to check, I discovered the butterfly emerged and the caterpillar turned into a chrysalis. Excitement surged through my body as I hoped the camera captured it all.

Upon playback, my joy knew no bounds. There it was: Life unfolding before my eyes! If you ever get the chance to experience this for yourself, seize it. The rewards are beyond measure.
Capturing the Magic: Sunset To Sunrise Timelapses By The Seashore

On a summer trip to Maine a few years ago, my main mission, other than consuming mass quantities of lobster, was to capture sunset to sunrise timelapse videos. The magical transition from setting sun to rising moon always fascinated me, and I was determined to capture the dramatic and compelling beauty. My wife and I rented a seaside cabin in the small coastal town of Bernard on the quiet side of Mount Desert Island just outside of Acadia National Park. A perfect idyllic location on the rocky shoreline of Duck Cove.

Before the trip, I took crash courses absorbing YouTube how-to videos on capturing sunset-to-sunrise timelapses with my GoPro Hero 9. I did the research and duplicated the steps needed to complete the mission without damaging my GoPro. After all, there are risks leaving a camera overnight exposed to misty humid air, sea breeze, possible rain, and even theft. I was less concerned about the latter since we were in a pretty remote area. As for the other risks, I bought a a portable charger and protected it in a Tupperware container. I cut a small hole in the container to thread the power cord through to connect to my GoPro. I then used silicone gel ear plugs you can buy at any pharmacy and sealed the hole and the exposed camera cord input. Made everything as water tight as possible.

With the camera securely mounted on a tripod at the edge of the shore, I framed the shot at the best possible angle as dusk fell, put the camera in timelapse mode, double-checked the settings recommended by those Youtube tutorials, and hit the start button. Then I walked away. Back at the cabin, I watched as the sky became the ultimate masterpiece as the sun dipped lower and vibrant hues spread across the sky. When morning came, I felt great anticipation. Did the camera lose power? Was it knocked over by a wind gust? Was there a breach in my waterproofing? So consumed by questions , I headed back to the shore before the first pot of coffee brewed. Soon, all my questions would be answered!

To my delight, the camera was in tact and operating. The portable charger still had power after running for twelve hours. In the end, all my preparation paid off. But, did I have good images? Back at the cabin, I downloaded what was on the SD card to my laptop computer. Thousands of images loaded! My video editing software compiled them all into a sequence and compressed hours of images into a timeline lasting just about two or so minutes. I did some minor tweaking to brightness, contrast, highlights, and shadows, but that was it. I was amazed with the result. A mesmerizing tapestry took shape before my eyes.

Sunset To Sunrise Timelapse Loop (Video By Steve Geiger)

The rolling clouds moved gracefully across the sky, creating ever-changing patterns and casting shadows on the moonlit water. It was as if nature had choreographed a celestial dance. The absence of significant light pollution revealed a myriad of stars. Several shooting stars streaked across the canvas of the night.

Sunset to sunrise timelapses are more than just a visual spectacle; they encapsulate the passage of time, the ebb and flow of nature’s rhythms, and the profound connection we share with our surroundings. They serve as a gentle reminder to pause, appreciate, and immerse ourselves in the breathtaking wonders that surround us.

Sunset To Sunrise Timelapse Loop (Video By Steve Geiger)

If you ever get a chance, I urge you to embark on your own timelapse adventure, especially at a serene seashore setting. Create your own visual masterpiece that tells a tale of beauty, serenity, and wonder.