SHUTTER SPEED “A GUIDE TO BEGINNERS PHOTOGRAPHY”

What is shutter speed, and how can you use it to take amazing photos? In this article I am going to teach you all you need to know about shutter speed. Photography as a medium, is basically frozen time in a frame. One fundamental aspect that plays a key role in this is the Shutter Speed. The shutter speed is part of the ultimate photography triangle, where we also have the ISO and Aperture.

Introduction To Shutter Speed:

Shutter speed refers to how long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light when taking a photo. It is the length of time the camera shutter is open while the camera takes a photo. It’s crucial because it affects how motion is captured in an image.

Basics Of Shutter SPEED:

 In this beginners guide to shutter speed lets talk about how Shutter speed is measured in seconds or fractions of a second.

 10s

 1s 

1/10s 

1/30s 

1/60s 

1/125s

 1/250s 

1/500s 

1/1000s 

1/1600s 

1/2000s

Shutter speeds around 1/1000s and above are fast.

Shutter speeds from 1/100s on down are slow.

Most cameras offer several dozen basic shutter speed options, there are literally thousands of possible shutter speeds you can use, all of which expose the camera sensor to slightly different quantities of light.

 Effect Of Shutter Speed On Images:

 Shutter Speed can affect your image in two major ways.

  It increases and decreases exposure (image brightness)

  It increases and decreases sharpness (image detail)

Fast shutter speed

A fast shutter speed freezes action, while a slow one creates motion blur.

Slow shutter speed

Shutter speed also influences how bright or dark a photo appears.

Shutter Speed and Exposure:

 Longer exposure times (slower shutter speeds) let in more light, making a photo brighter. . The longer the shutter speed, the more light that hits your camera sensor – and the brighter the image becomes.

The shorter exposure times (faster shutter speeds) make a photo darker. The shorter the shutter speed, the less light that hits your camera sensor and the brighter the image becomes.

Let’s take the shutter as a window. The longer the window stays open the more light you get, and the shorter time it stays open the less amount of light you get.

How Shutter Speed Affects Image Sharpness:

Faster shutter speeds freeze motion. Slower shutter speeds blur motion. So if you’re photographing a girl playing a drum at 1/4000s, you can easily get the action, freezing the sticks in mid-stroke.

But if you photograph that same girl at 1/100s, it will be an indecipherable blur.

Fast shutter speeds are used in sports photography to freeze action, while slow speeds are employed to capture moving subjects artistically. 

The Triangle of Exposure: 

When we talk about Exposure in photography Shutter Speed is but one part of the triad, which also includes; Aperture (how wide the lens opens), and ISO (sensitivity to light) together they control how bright a photo is and how motion appears.

How To Set Shutter Speed In Your Camera

 The basic setting or location of the shutter speed varies from camera to camera – but changing the shutter speed is usually as simple as rotating a dial. Note that your ability to adjust the shutter speed will change depending on your camera mode.

Manual mode gives full control over settings, while automatic modes let the camera choose shutter speed for convenience. 

Shutter Speed Tips and Tricks:

1. Use tripods for slow speeds to prevent blur.
2. Combine shutter speed with other techniques for unique results.
3. Faster speeds capture sharp portraits.
4. Slower speeds create serene landscapes.
5. Shutter speeds around 1/1000s and above are fast.
6. Shutter speeds in the 1/100s to 1/1000s range are average.
7. Shutter speeds from 1/100s on down are slow.

Trying different shutter speeds helps understand their effects. Practice refines your ability to choose the right speed. Take out your camera and have a scene in mind. Ask yourself: Are any subjects moving? And if so, what shutter speed do I need to freeze them? Keep practicing till you get better and even then don’t stop, and good luck on your journey in photography.