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The Basics: Shutter Speed


Learn the basics and the rest will follow is a rule we like to live by. Today we're looking at shutter speed.

When we refer to shutter speed, we are referencing the amount of time that the shutter on a camera stays open, be it long or short.
Specifically, it is the length of time given to your image sensor to absorb the scene you are shooting, which naturally means the longer a shutter is open, the more light it absorbs, and vice-versa.

Shutter speed comes into play when you're shooting an image where movement is involved. What you are attempting to establish is how you want that movement to be expressed within the image.

Ultimately you will decide between freezing the moment (which does just that) and allowing for blur (which will give the image the feeling of activity).

A fast shutter speed allows for the image to frozen, so that, for example, when an athlete is on a trampoline, you can capture a particular movement crystal clear. With a slower shutter speed, his shape would be blurred and less refined.

On the other hand, a slow shutter speed allows for the shot to show movement where it is so desired. For example, if you're at a grand prix event, by opting for a slow shutter speed and following the speeding car, you can create an image that blurs the background and keeps the car sharp.

This adds drama that a static image wouldn't, making it an especially appropriate setting for this kind of activity.

Cameras measure speed in two ways: in seconds for slower images and in fractions of a second for faster images. For example, opting for a two on a digital camera will be slower than opting for 1/250.

It is important to remember that every time you shift the speed up or down, you affect the amount of light that comes in. So, depending on the setting you are using, you may have to manually modify the aperture to compensate for either greater light or lack of.
 

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