Photography Lesson #3 Shutter speed

Here is number 3. I will be out of town for a while so I am posting this one early. This will give some of you time to catch up! By the way, I posted all of my 8 lesson's on my blog. It's already my most popular post.


Photography lesson #3 Shutter Speed

The Shutter is an opening in the camera that allows light into the camera (rather than a lens opening like aperture) which then exposes the film or digital media. The faster the shutter speed or higher the number (ex. 1/5000 which means 1/5000 of a second), the less time the shutter is open and that means that a less amount of light is allowed to enter. The slower the shutter speed or lower numbers (ex. 1/25), the longer it is open and the more light is allowed into the camera.

Shutter speed affects action or movement. The longer the shutter speed is open, or the lower the number, the more movement your picture will capture. So if you want to capture clear, sharp images of movement, you will want a higher Shutter Speed. If you want to see movement or blur then you would use a lower shutter speed. Tripods are recommended at the lower shutter speeds such as when you see a “ after the number. At this point you are not even in whole numbers. A good example of this is when you see waterfalls that look misty, blurry and soft. They have been taken with a tripod and at a very low shutter speed.

Generally I use around 1/100 for indoor low light shots with not too much movement because I need the camera to let in more light, but outside on a bright day I use much higher shutter speed numbers because there is more available light and I need less time to let it in.

ISO 400, f/4, 1/80

This picture shows a little blur in the hands and feet. What I should have done was up the ISO so that I could use a higher shutter speed to get a sharper, clear action shot. Still it is kind of fun to see a little movement or blur because it implies action.

Assignment 1:

Set your ISO first, and then put your camera on S or Tv which means shutter speed priority. The camera will automatically set the aperture. Start at a low shutter speed like 1/30 and take a picture of a moving subject, record all your settings and then move your shutter speed up a stop and take another picture until you have recorded them all.

Notice that if your pictures look blown out or too dark, you might need to change the ISO accordingly. Higher ISO’s outside, when you don’t think you will need it, actually gives you more playing room with your shutter speed. Also, a faster moving subject means you will need faster or higher shutter speeds.

Assignment 2:

Shoot a photograph that shows creative motion. Post your favorites to the blog.