Photography for Beginners: Pt 4: Mastering the Art of Shutter Speed
- Blue Jay
- Oct 14, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 11, 2023
In the last post, we talked about what ISO is and how it affects the quality of your photos in different types of lighting. Now we're moving onto the next major camera setting: shutter speed.
Both ISO and shutter speed are fundamental parts of the exposure triangle.
Whether you're using a smartphone, point-and-shoot or DSLR / Mirrorless camera, comprehending the intricacies of shutter speed is key to unlocking the true potential of your camera.
Sections: What is Shutter Speed?, How to Choose a Shutter Speed, How Shutter Speed Works on Different Cameras, How To Hold Your Camera (And Why It's Important)
What is Shutter Speed?
Shutter speed refers to the amount of time the camera's shutter remains open, allowing light to pass through and hit the camera sensor. Specifically, it tells you how fast the shutter closes.
It plays a crucial role in controlling the exposure of an image, and consequently, it directly affects the overall brightness of your photograph.
The faster the shutter speed, the less light will be able to enter the lens. The slower the shutter speed, the more light enters.
This means that a fast shutter speed will result in a darker photo, since it didn't have a lot of time to gather light. A slower speed is the opposite and will result in a brighter photo.
What is the shutter? It's the part of the camera that covers the light sensor. When you press the shutter button (the button that takes the picture), that shutter briefly opens and then shuts as soon as the sensor is done collecting light. You tell it how long it needs to stay open when you change the shutter speed setting.
Shutter speed also has an interesting effect on photos. It can freeze action to capture the perfect moment or you can use it to create some really cool blurs.
Because of this effect, it's important to practice using different shutter speeds ahead of time. Otherwise, you might miss some really important moments if you go to a shoot with no previous experience!
Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second. Some cameras can shoot at 1/8000th of a second! Most go down to 1/4000th of a second. The longest shutter speed you'll typically find is a 30 second shutter speed.
Anything under 1 second is considered a faster shutter speed.
How to Choose a Shutter Speed
There are three factors that will affect what shutter speed you choose: the brightness of your setting, the type of subject you're shooting, and the "story" you're going for.
It's also worth remembering that ISO and aperture settings will affect these things as well, so there's a mixture of combinations you can use to achieve the desired effect.
A faster shutter speed freezes motion, making it perfect for capturing fast-paced scenes, while a slower shutter speed allows for the blurring effect, ideal for emphasizing movement or creating dramatic effects.
I took some photos of my cat, Big Chungus, to show you examples of what different shutter speeds look like. The photo on the left is a 30 second shutter speed. The middle one is 1/4000th of a second and the last one is at 1/150th of a second.
Slow (30")  | Fast (4000)  | Medium (150)  |
I shot these photos in a dark room at night with only a very dim lamp in the distance and the glow of the TV.
Photo 1: The slow shutter speed allowed the camera sensor to collect all of the light from the room and properly expose Chungus. The problem is... Chungus was moving. So was my camera because I wasn't using a tripod. That's why you see all of the blur.
Photo 2: The photo with the fast shutter speed is barely visible because the camera had no time to get any of the light. Chungus was actively licking himself at this time, and you can see that there is no blur because the camera was able to "freeze" time.
Photo 3: The photo with the medium shutter speed is the most "accurate" one in terms of what reality looked like. The photo is still underexposed because it was a dark room and other settings would have helped, like bumping up the ISO. Still, there is no blur and this photo has the most detail in it.
So to recap-
Dark Settings need a slow shutter speed. You should use a tripod and shoot only still subjects if you don't want motion blur.
If you want to capture fast moving objects, like animals, use a fast shutter speed. This will require you to be in good lighting.
If you are in a very bright setting, a slow shutter speed can lead to overexposure, when everything looks blown out. Beware of overexposure.
Sometimes you want to make certain action shots blur on purpose to tell a story or convey a feeling. This is where you are free to play with the settings however you see fit.
Before choosing a shutter speed setting, ask yourself what kind of photo you're trying to take.
Some camera lenses have image stabilization built-in (also known as vibration reduction or vibration compensation) to help with shaky hands while taking photos. This is helpful if you want to shoot in a slow shutter speed but don't have a tripod.
If you don't have a tripod and your camera lens doesn't have image stabilization, try the reciprocal rule.
How Shutter Speed Works on Different Cameras:
Smartphones:
Smartphones often come with preset shutter speed settings, making it easy for beginners to snap pictures effortlessly.
However, some advanced smartphone models allow manual adjustments, enabling users to experiment with different shutter speeds and creative effects.
If your smartphone doesn't allow you to change shutter speed settings, check to see if you can use a third party app.
Point and Shoots:
Point-and-shoot cameras generally have limited shutter speed control compared to DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras. Yet, they offer various preset shooting modes to adapt to different lighting conditions.
"Sports" mode or anything labeled for action typically means a faster shutter speed.
There aren't usually any presets for a slower shutter speed but you could try switching to night mode and covering your flash (which will automatically turn on).
DSLR and Mirrorless:
These advanced cameras provide extensive control over shutter speed.
Before adjusting the shutter speed, ensure your camera is set to either Manual (M) mode or Shutter Priority (S or Tv) mode.
Manual mode provides full control over both shutter speed and aperture, while Shutter Priority mode allows you to set the desired shutter speed while the camera adjusts the aperture automatically.
On most DSLR or mirrorless cameras, the shutter speed dial is typically on the top right-hand side of the camera body, or it's a button / dial.
How To Hold Your Camera (And Why It's Important)
I will make a more in-depth post on this later, but for now know this: your shutter speed settings could be perfect, but you still won't get good images if you're not holding your camera correctly. With the wrong technique, things will still be blurry and out of focus because you're moving too much without realizing it.
The most common correct way to hold your camera (if using DSLR / Mirrorless) is to:
Hold the camera with your right hand and place your left hand under the lens.
Hold the camera as close to your body as possible.
If looking through the viewfinder instead of an LCD screen, press the camera to your head for extra stability.
Keep your elbows together.
If this post was helpful to you, share it on social media for others! It helps me a lot. :)
Conclusion
Mastering the art of shutter speed unlocks a world of creative possibilities. By understanding its nuances and knowing when to tweak it according to the situation, you can capture breathtaking images that leave a lasting impression. So, dive into your camera settings, experiment with various shutter speeds, and unleash your inner photographer!
Your Homework
-Practice freezing time by picking a subject to take "action photos" of.
-Practice getting crisp photos with a slow shutter speed by doing a landscape photoshoot on a tripod.
-Practice intentional motion blur by putting your camera on a tripod, setting your camera to a slow shutter speed, and moving in front of it as the subject.
-Save the photos for future reference.
Take the poll below!
Quiz: Which of these photos was taken with a slow shutter speed?
#1
#2
In the next post we will learn about the final part of the exposure triangle: aperture.
Comments