UNDERSTANDING SHUTTER SPEED

The Photographic Triangle A correct exposure is a simple combination of three important factors:

Shutter Speed There 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 Panning Implying 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 Panning Implying Motion Fast Shutter Speeds Slow Shutter Speeds

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