Meet the Million Dollar Crew: Yoshiaki Muramatsu + Learn About GoPro Firework Photography

Nearly 28,000 HERO10 Black clips from 131 countries were submitted for the chance to be featured in the fourth annual Million Dollar Challenge highlight reel. Ultimately, 62 creators made the cut, earning $16,129.03 a piece.

This series celebrates the stories and the creative processes of these talented creators. We hope these behind-the-scenes looks inspire you as much as they did us. 

Night photography can be tricky, and even more so when you try to slow it down. BUT this week’s highlighted Million Dollar Challenge creator absolutely nailed it, and lucky for you, we’re sharing this just in time to inspire some Fourth of July fireworks photography on GoPro!

Yoshiaki Muramatsu is an engineer at the Toyota Motor Corporation by day and a stellar GoPro creator by night—literally. In his awarded clip, Yoshi used HERO10 Black set to record 2.7K video at 240 fps to capture he and his wife, Maiko, dancing in a flurry of sparklers.

Yoshi says he was focused on getting a shot that he knew could be slowed down—hence, shooting in a super high 240 frame rate. He also wanted to get a unique composition, so he attached his GoPro to a device that he was able to spin above their heads to get the shot. Finally, he just wanted to have fun doing it—mission accomplished!

We caught up with Yoshi to learn a little more about his (and his wife’s, who also was a HERO10 Black Million Dollar Challenge recipient) journey to Million Dollar Challenge fame.

GoPro: What motivated you to submit to the Million Dollar Challenge?

Yoshiaki: It is my dream to be in a GoPro video.

You were just awarded $16,129.03 USD! Congrats! What do you plan to do with your earnings?

Future travel and adventure with my wife!

When did you first start using GoPro?

I’ve been using GoPro since HERO4 Silver came out.

What inspired your awarded clip?

I wanted to capture something that would showcase the latest features and higher frame rates, so I originally using 4K 120fps to get some creative shots.

What resolution and frame rate did you use for the awarded clip?

HERO10 Black set to 2.7K 240 fps to get super slow motion.

What have you learned from this experience?

It made me realized that this tiny camera can capture A LOT of things.

Would you participate again in the future?

120% YES!

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with the Million Dollar Challenge?

You guys are the best!!! Thank you for making our life so stoked!!

Watch the HERO10 Black Million Dollar Challenge reel here.

You can also learn more about Night Photography on GoPro here, and how to capture fireworks on GoPro here.