What is Shutter Speed in Photography?
Shutter Speed in photography is one of the three elements that affect exposure; the other two being aperture and ISO. The three elements are known as the Exposure Triangle.
Shutter speed is the length of time the camera’s digital sensor is exposed to light when taking a photograph. It’s simply the amount of time the shutter is open.
The longer the shutter is open, the more light passes through to the camera’s sensor. On the other hand, the shorter the shutter is open, the less light that’s able to pass through.
Two things that shutter speed controls are:
- Exposure – Changing the brightness or darkness in your photographs
- Motion – Blurring motion or freezing action in your photographs
How Shutter Speed is Measured
A camera’s shutter speed is measured as a fraction of a second for all speeds under a second.
A typical sequence of shutter speeds is (in seconds) 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000, 1/4000, and 1/8000.
Shutter Speed and Exposure
A slower shutter speed allows more light to be exposed to the camera sensor and will result in an image being brighter. Using a faster shutter speed allows less light in, and results in a darker image.
Shutter speed is one of the three elements that determine the exposure of an image. The other two are aperture and ISO. All three need to be balanced in order to get the correct exposure.
Fast vs Slow Shutter Speed Settings
When we refer to how fast or slow a shutter speed is, we are talking about how long the shutter is open.
What is a Fast Shutter Speed?
A fast shutter speed is when the shutter remains open for a short period of time. Faster shutter speeds are generally used to freeze fast-moving subjects, without any motion blur. They are commonly used for wildlife and sports photography. Setting fasters than 1/100th of a second will start freezing motion.
What is a Slow Shutter Speed?
A slow shutter speed is when the camera shutter is open for a longer period of time. Slow shutter speeds are normally above 1/60th of a second. Slow shutter speeds are used to create a sense of motion and in low-light conditions.
When using slow shutter speeds, a tripod is needed in order to stabilize the camera, otherwise, the entire scene will be blurred. Slow shutter speeds are also used for long exposure photography.
How to Set the Shutter Speed
How to change the shutter speed can vary from camera to camera. Normally you can set it in the menu, or a control dial on the camera. Refer to your camera’s manual to find where it is on your specific camera. Once you set the shutter speed, you can view the setting on the top LCD panel of the camera, the back screen, through the viewfinder, and on the menu.
If the camera is set to Auto Mode, the camera will select the correct shutter speed. To manually control the shutter speed, you need to shoot in Manual Mode or Shutter Priority Mode.
Choosing the Right Shutter Speed
The best shutter speed depends on the available light of the scene and the motion that you want to capture.
Faster shutter speeds freeze motion and let light in for a shorter period of time, which will result in darker images. Slower shutter speeds blur motion and let light in for longer periods of time, which will result in a brighter image.
ISO and aperture must be factored in, and adjusted to create the proper exposure.
Shutter Speed Chart
This chart should help give you an understanding of which shutter speeds work best for different situations.
1/4000 of a Second – Freezing very fast objects: water splashes, popping balloons
1/2000 of a Second – Freezing birds in flight: capturing moving wings without blur
1/1000 of a Second – Sports, freeze fast-moving objects: moving vehicles
1/500 of a Second – Freezing moving people: runners, cyclists, slower sports
1/250 of a Second – Slower moving subjects, landscapes without a tripod
1/125 of a Second – Freeze movements of objects not moving too fast: wildlife
1/60 of a Second – Panning runners, vehicles, cyclists
1/30 of a Second – Panning slower moving subjects
1/15 of a Second – Slight blur motion: waterfalls, moving traffic. Use a tripod
1/8 of a Second – Blurs fast-moving water: waterfalls, rivers
1/4 of a Second – Creating blurred movement in a scene, blur people walking
1/2 of a Second – Strong motion blur: water starts appearing as mist
1 or more Seconds – Twilight, night photography, milky water effect
Bulb Mode – 30+ seconds: star trails, night & astrophotography
Conclusion
It is important for any photographer to understand shutter speed in photography. It’s one of the most important settings to learn in your photography and essential for shooting in manual mode.
Make sure to download the free Shutter Speed Cheat Sheet to use as your handy reference guide to shutter speed!
If you know someone who’s getting started with photography and is interested in learning more about shutter speed, make sure to share this post with them.
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