Written by my co-host Lolli
What is shutter speed?
Shutter speed is the amount of time that the camera’s shutter (or the opening that lets light into the camera's sensors) stays open. The shutter speed is measured in seconds (or fractions of seconds). A shutter speed of ½ of a second is considered a very slow (or long) shutter speed, while 1/1000 is considered a very fast (or short) shutter speed. In other words, a short shutter speed has a smaller number on the bottom. A fast shutter speed has a larger number on the bottom. According to a camera, a second is a very long time.
What shutter speed should you use?
Here's what you want to remember:
- Use a fast shutter speed to stop action, or for fast-moving subjects.
- Use a slow shutter speed to let in more light (in lower light situations), for stationary subjects, or to show motion.
Here are some examples:
Not the most exiting shot I know, but I am trying to show motion. Go check out Lolli’s for some great examples.
My fan is actually on, but because I took the picture at such a fast shutter speed, it seems as though my fan is not moving. Shot at 1/500 shutter speed.
If I use a slower shutter speed like 1/60 the same picture looks like this:
It clearly shows that my fan is on, and gives a sense of motion.
When setting up a shot, consider the movement in the scene. There are occasions where motion in your pictures is desirable. Say you want to take a photo of a waterfall or a bicycle or car zooming past....or an energetic 3 year old playing at the park. Those are the occasions where a slow shutter speed would be the way to go.
Where do you find the shutter speed?
If your camera has the ability to change settings, look for the Tv (time value) or S (shutter) mode (this is available on all SLRs and many point and shoot cameras). If your camera does not allow you to specify the shutter speed, look for the running man (sports mode) for a fast shutter speed to stop action.
Turn your camera’s mode dial to S or Tv. To make adjustments to your shutter speed turn the rear dial.
You can see the changes being made in the top LCD screen.
In summary, this is what you need to keep in mind:
* The longer the shutter stays open, the more light that comes into the camera, and the more likely you will be to get blurred motion.
* The shorter the shutter stays open, the less light that comes into the camera, and the more likely you will be to freeze the action in your shot.
The Challenge:
Take a picture of something in action, you can freeze the action, or purposely blur it to show movement.
Come back next Tuesday to link up and share your example of shutter speed.
If you have more questions about shutter speed, or even your camera, please feel free to ask any questions in the comments. They will all be answered!
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