Shutter Speed is in reference to how fast the shutter is going on a camera.
The higher the shutter speed (1/1000) means the faster the shutter is going. The smaller the shutter speed means the slower the shutter speed is going (1/30)
It is measured in seconds.
A good rule of thumb unless you have a tripod is to keep your shutter speed at 1/60 or higher to capture the best from your camera. With a tripod you can go even lower, and that’s where long exposure can also come in handy. I promise we’ll discuss the importance of a tripod later.
In order to freeze motion, you will want to utilize a higher shutter speed. If you want your picture to show the blur of motion you will want to utilize a lower shutter speed.
Situations in which you may want a slower shutter speed:
When trying to capture moving water
When trying to capture the speed trails of light
Or when you’re trying to capture the speed of a car, motorcycle, or even a bike.
Otherwise, if you’re looking to capture a picture with very little blur in it you will want to utilize a higher shutter speed.
So, get out there and start experimenting with shutter speeds, and let me know what you come up with =) They’re a ton of fun!
Another great article on Shutter Speed can be found here: http://digital-photography-school.com/shutter-speed
15 Responses to Figuring Out Shutter Speed!