Unit 3: Photography Basics
Shutter speed controls how long light will hit your sensor or film.
What is Shutter Speed?
We’re going to start our introduction to the settings with shutter speed. In simple terms, it is the amount of time that your camera's shutter stays open when you take a photo. It controls how long light is allowed to reach the camera's sensor.
Shutter speed is measured in seconds or fractions of a second (e.g., 1/1000 of a second, 1/250 of a second, 1 second). A faster shutter speed (like 1/1000) means the shutter opens and closes quickly. A slower shutter speed (like 1 second) means the shutter is open longer. The longer the shutter is open, the more light that is let in, resulting in brighter images. But, of course it’s not that simple. If the shutter is open, letting in light, it also is continuously recording what’s in front of the lens.
Shutter Speed Values
Shutter speeds are represented in seconds or fractions of a second. Common values include 1/1000s, 1/500s, 1/250s, 1/125s, 1/60s, 1/30s, and so on - full seconds is also an option. Faster shutter speeds, such as 1/1000s or 1/500s, allow the shutter to open and close very quickly, reducing the time the sensor is exposed to light. This has two main effects: light has less time to hit the sensor/film and there is less time for movement to be recorded. Slower shutter speeds, like 1/30s or 1/15s, result in a longer exposure time, allowing more light to reach the sensor. As you can guess this has the opposite effect of a shorter exposure time - more time for light to hit the sensor/film, and more time for movement to be recorded.
The real question is how does that function in a practical sense. Controlling the length of time the shutter is open gives the opportunity for both creative decisions and for combatting difficult lighting situations. Longer shutter speeds can introduce motion blur, create smooth-looking water, and opens us up to more advanced techniques like panning. Shorter shutter speeds can freeze action like an athlete jumping, rain drops falling, or cars speeding past.
Low Light Conditions
In low-light conditions, the available ambient light is often insufficient to achieve a well-exposed photograph using standard exposure settings. To address this challenge, you may opt for a slower shutter speed, allowing the camera's sensor to be exposed to light for a longer duration.
While this can effectively capture more light and detail in low-light environments, it introduces a potential drawback - the risk of camera shake and resulting blurry images. Slow shutter speeds make the camera more susceptible to the natural movements of the photographer's hand, leading to unintentional blurring in the final image.
Recognizing this, you can employ various stabilization techniques to mitigate the effects of camera shake. One commonly used method is the use of a tripod, providing a stable platform for the camera during the longer exposure. Additionally, image stabilization features in some camera systems or lenses can help compensate for minor movements. By carefully managing shutter speed and stabilization methods in low-light conditions, photographers can achieve well-exposed, sharp images without compromising on image quality.
Long Exposures
Long exposures involve the deliberate use of very slow shutter speeds, often extending into seconds or even minutes, to create unique and visually interesting effects. Commonly this technique is seen in capturing star trails, light painting, smoothing moving water, and producing ethereal effects in low-light situations.
When utilizing long exposures to photograph star trails, the prolonged shutter opening allows the camera to record the movement of stars across the night sky, resulting in swirling patterns. In light painting, where additional light sources are introduced during the exposure, extended shutter speeds enable the painter to manipulate and shape the light in the frame. Utilizing a long shutter speed when photographing moving water captures the continuous motion, creating a smooth look.
In low-light scenarios, employing long exposure techniques can reveal subtle details and textures that might be otherwise imperceptible with shorter exposure times. When photographing a skyline at night, for instance, a longer shutter speed will expose lights from buildings which may not even be noticeable to the photographer.
Despite its artistic appeal, mastering long exposure photography requires careful consideration of factors such as stability, lighting conditions, and creative intent. The deliberate use of extended shutter speeds offers you a powerful tool to make images that transcend the constraints of conventional exposure settings.
Stopped Motion
There will be instances where you want your subject to be completely frozen in time: sports, birding, and your running kids come to mind. So how do we get our moving subject completely still in an image? This is when you’ll want to use a fast shutter speed.
The concept of freezing motion through the use of fast shutter speeds is a pivotal aspect of photography. Fast shutter speeds, typically measured in fractions of a second such as 1/1000s or 1/500s, serve the purpose of capturing subjects with precision and clarity, eliminating the risk of motion blur.
This technique is particularly indispensable in sports photography, where athletes are in constant motion, and the aim is to freeze split-second actions like a sprinter mid-stride or a soccer player striking the ball. Similarly, in wildlife photography, where animals exhibit swift and unpredictable movements, employing fast shutter speeds is essential to preserve the details of the subject without any distortion caused by motion.
The ability to capture crisp details and freeze action is not limited to these genres alone; it extends to any scenario where the goal is to seize a fleeting moment, whether it be a dancer's leap, a child's spontaneous expression, or any other dynamic element within a scene. In these instances, the use of fast shutter speeds becomes a fundamental tool for photographers to ensure the sharpness and clarity of their images.
The important thing to remember when attempting to freeze motion is that the shutter will close quickly, so less light will have the time to hit the sensor/film. You will need to adjust your aperture and/or ISO accordingly. But, that’s the beauty of automatic modes. Putting your camera into Shutter Priority mode will allow you to set the quick shutter speed you need, and the camera will adjust the aperture and ISO for you - saving you time in adjusting everything manually.
Motion Blur
Motion blur, achieved through intentionally slow shutter speeds (sometimes exceeding seconds), serves as a versatile and creative tool in photography. This technique deliberately extends the duration of the exposure, capturing the movement of subjects within the frame. One common application is in the portrayal of the smooth flow of water, as exemplified in waterfall photography.
You can leverage this technique to capture light trails produced by moving vehicles during nighttime shots. The elongated streaks of light create a sense of speed and energy, adding a dynamic element to urban scenes.
Intentional motion blur can be employed to convey a sense of motion in a subject, be it a dancer, athlete, or any moving object. This technique transcends the static nature of traditional photography, offering a visual narrative that encapsulates the essence of movement. Through the deliberate manipulation of shutter speeds, you can create static images which show movement.
Reciprocal “Rule”
The reciprocal rule is a fundamental guideline in photography aimed at minimizing motion blur caused by camera shake, especially when shooting handheld. This rule provides a straightforward relationship between the focal length of the lens and the minimum recommended shutter speed.
Essentially, the reciprocal rule suggests that the shutter speed should be set at least as fast as the reciprocal of the focal length. For instance, if using a 50mm lens, the recommended shutter speed would be 1/50s or faster. The rationale behind this rule is to match the shutter speed to the focal length, preventing the introduction of noticeable blurriness caused by the natural movements of the photographer's hands during the exposure. Adhering to the reciprocal rule becomes increasingly crucial at longer focal lengths where minor shakes become more pronounced.
While advancements in image stabilization technology have provided alternatives, the reciprocal rule remains a valuable guideline for photographers, ensuring that the chosen shutter speed is well-matched to the focal length to achieve sharp, clear images when shooting without a tripod.
Just remember that rules like these should be approached more as guidelines, intended to give you a starting point. When working with shutter speed, it can be helpful to be aware of the reciprocal “rule,” but there are endless situations where it does not apply and you’d be better suited to forget it.