Shutter Speed

After purchasing a SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera, I found myself no longer shooting my photographs in the “auto” setting. Instead, I learned to control my camera by using the camera’s three special settings: aperture control, shutter-speed control and full manual control.

Scrapjazz addressed aperture control in the article Using Aperture: Creative Power with Your Camera’s F-Stop. I frequently use aperture control, but sometimes it comes in handy to control another setting on your camera: the shutter speed. With a fast shutter speed, I can freeze action and with a slow shutter speed I can blur the image. Depending on the situation and the image I want to create, it’s helpful to know the basics of how adjusting the shutter speed can help improve my photos.

Mechanics. On SLR cameras the shutter speed can be adjusted by changing the “TV” (Time Value) setting or the shutter speed in the “M” (Full Manual Control) setting. TV controls how long the shutter will stay open once you press the shutter release and take your photograph. The longer the shutter stays open, the more light is let into the camera. The aperture setting also influences the amount of light that enters the camera.

Numbers such as 1, 15, 60, 125, etc. indicate the shutter speed. The numbers represent either seconds or fractions of a second. For example, 1 = 1 second, 15 = 1/15 second, 60 = 1/60 second, etc. SLR cameras have these numbers viewable on the speed dial, the LCD panel and/or the viewfinder.

Camera Motion. The proper shutter speed prevents unwanted camera motion or blurriness due to camera motion. Camera motion happens when the photographer is unable to hold the camera still for the length of exposure being used. Experiment and find out at what shutter speed you can hold your camera still. Most people can hold the camera still at 1/125 shutter speed.

Stop Action. A fast shutter speed enables the subject to be stopped in action. The faster the action, the higher the shutter speed needs to be in order to stop the action. As a general rule use a shutter speed faster than the speed of the moving object.

Blur Action. A slow shutter speed enables the subject to be blurred. For an artistic flair or to capture the feeling of action, purposefully use a slow shutter speed (1/30 or slower) and blur the action.

“Panning” enables you to keep the subject in focus while blurring the background. To pan, follow the direction of a slow-moving subject with your camera while pressing the shutter release.

Bulb Setting. SLR cameras will have a “B” (Bulb) setting. The bulb setting keeps the shutter open as long as you press the shutter release. The bulb setting is perfect for photographing fireworks.

Guidelines. The following guidelines show what can be done at different shutter speeds.

• 1/15 or under: Use a tripod to prevent camera motion. This speed works well for stationary objects. When photographing in a low-light situation, using a tripod and slow shutter speed can help the camera absorb more light when creating the image, such as in this photo of a jack-o-lantern.
  
  Since a slow shutter speed won’t stop action, you can also use it to blur action or for panning an object.


• 1/30, 1/60, and 1/125: Good for handheld photography, but must be held very steady. It is best to use these speeds when there is plenty of existing light and moderate motion.


• 1/250 and up: Great for handheld photography. These speeds work well for moderate action (1/250) to fast action (1/2000.) Not only will these high shutter speeds stop the action but also the images will be sharper and clearer. Fast speeds are great for freezing the action in outdoor sports activities.

Experiment. Having control of your shutter speed gives you more options. Practice and experimentation is the best way to learn more about how adjusting the shutter speed can improve your photography. Experiment in several different situations with different lighting and motion variables.

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