UNDERSTANDINGSHUTTER SPEED

The Photographic Triangle• A correct exposure is a simple

combination of three important factors:

Shutter SpeedThere are two situations were you should

make shutter speed your priority:

1. when the scene offers motion or action opportunities, or

2. when you are shooting in low light without a tripod.

THREE TYPES OF SHUTTER SPEEDS

1/1000, 1/500, 1/250 / 1/60, 1/30/ 1/15 / 1/4, 1/2, 1’’

Freezing Motion

PanningImplying Motion

Fast Shutter Speeds

Slow Shutter Speeds

The RIGHT shutter speed is a creative decision

Getting the right shutter speed for the subject:

• Freezing Motion – stops the action

• Panning – blurs background

• Implying Motion – suggests continuous action

Freezing Motion

• The closer to the action, the faster the shutter speed must be.

1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000

Panning• Moving the camera parallel to – and at

the same speed – as the action.

• In other words, swing your camera from left to right as the subject moves from left to right. Keep the subject in focus.

• Result: The subject in focus, while the background is blurred with motion.

1/60, 1/30, 1/15

Implying Motion• Longer exposures give waterfalls a

cotton candy look.

• Car lights at nighttime get blurred as light streaks.

1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1’’ to 30’’

© C.T. Henry

Full Stops of Light

1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125,

1/60, 1/30, 1/15,

1/8, ¼, ½, 1’’, 2’’, 4’’, 8’’, 16’’, 30’’

SHUTTER SPEED

1/1000, 1/500, 1/250 / 1/60, 1/30/ 1/15 / 1/4, 1/2, 1’’

Freezing Motion

PanningImplying Motion

Fast Shutter Speeds

Slow Shutter Speeds

EXAMPLES

EXAMPLES

EXAMPLES

EXAMPLES

© C.T. Henry

EXAMPLES

HOMEWORK

• Shoot the THREE different types of shutter speeds

–1 Freezing Action photo

–1 Panning Shot

–1 Implied Motion photo