- Admin
- #1
This continues the series of posts that are coming over the next few months that will help anybody that wants it. If you only use a cell phone, that is okay too, as many have controls now. It may sound hard or not worth it, but it is so simple, and will make all of the difference in the world.
If you missed Part 1, understanding Aperture, you can find that here.
With Aperture and ISO, Shutter Speed makes up the "Exposure Triangle" or the three pillars of photography. The easiest way to think about shutter speed, is it is where the magic is created. It creates either the freezing or blurring motion of what is captured. Before getting started, it is important to note what a shutter is. It is the piece that opens up, exposing the sensor to light and then closes, eliminating the light. So think of taking a picture, you click the shutter button, and the shutter opens and closes for a set period of time.
Shutter speed is just what it sounds like. The length of time that the camera is open to expose light to the sensor. That's it. Now to where it matters.
Fast Shutter Speed = Stopping motion in time
Slow Shutter Speed = Motion Blur
The first question usually asked is why would anybody want a slow shutter speed and blur?
The answer is pretty easy. If movement is supposed to be communicated to the viewer, motion blur adds that.
How is it Measured
Like our first lesson, where f-stops are used and can seem too complicated, despite being very easy, shutter speeds are the same. They are typically done in second fractions. 1/4 is a quarter of a second and 1/250 would mean one two hundred and fiftieth of a second.
Fast shutter speeds are used to freeze the action so to give you an example in golf, shooting at 1/500th and above to freeze the swing. When you see a swing frozen, you will know that the shutter speed was set rather fast and if you see the blur, which shows movement, that it was slower.
Setting Shutter Speed
Many photographers let the camera handle shutter speeds automatically and honestly they do a darn good job in auto modes. If you are going to stick in an auto mode, we suggest looking at Aperture Priority mode, which lets you set the aperture and the camera will set the shutter speed for you.
If you decide to switch that, you can go into Shutter Priority and that is where you set the shutter speed and the camera selects the aperture for you or you can go into full auto where you set both shutter speed and aperture independently. There is no right or wrong, it is whatever makes you enjoy both the art of taking pictures and the enjoyment of the final products when done.
Some examples
Helicopter Landing at Tavistock (1/640) (see blades frozen)
Swing (1/320) (still see a bit of motion blur)
Swing (1/500) (frozen in time)
If you missed Part 1, understanding Aperture, you can find that here.
With Aperture and ISO, Shutter Speed makes up the "Exposure Triangle" or the three pillars of photography. The easiest way to think about shutter speed, is it is where the magic is created. It creates either the freezing or blurring motion of what is captured. Before getting started, it is important to note what a shutter is. It is the piece that opens up, exposing the sensor to light and then closes, eliminating the light. So think of taking a picture, you click the shutter button, and the shutter opens and closes for a set period of time.
Shutter speed is just what it sounds like. The length of time that the camera is open to expose light to the sensor. That's it. Now to where it matters.
Fast Shutter Speed = Stopping motion in time
Slow Shutter Speed = Motion Blur
The first question usually asked is why would anybody want a slow shutter speed and blur?
The answer is pretty easy. If movement is supposed to be communicated to the viewer, motion blur adds that.
How is it Measured
Like our first lesson, where f-stops are used and can seem too complicated, despite being very easy, shutter speeds are the same. They are typically done in second fractions. 1/4 is a quarter of a second and 1/250 would mean one two hundred and fiftieth of a second.
Fast shutter speeds are used to freeze the action so to give you an example in golf, shooting at 1/500th and above to freeze the swing. When you see a swing frozen, you will know that the shutter speed was set rather fast and if you see the blur, which shows movement, that it was slower.
Setting Shutter Speed
Many photographers let the camera handle shutter speeds automatically and honestly they do a darn good job in auto modes. If you are going to stick in an auto mode, we suggest looking at Aperture Priority mode, which lets you set the aperture and the camera will set the shutter speed for you.
If you decide to switch that, you can go into Shutter Priority and that is where you set the shutter speed and the camera selects the aperture for you or you can go into full auto where you set both shutter speed and aperture independently. There is no right or wrong, it is whatever makes you enjoy both the art of taking pictures and the enjoyment of the final products when done.
Some examples
Helicopter Landing at Tavistock (1/640) (see blades frozen)
Swing (1/320) (still see a bit of motion blur)
Swing (1/500) (frozen in time)
