Technical Tuesday: The Shutter
Shutter speed is one of the most important tools for controlling how motion appears in your photographs. Here’s how it works:
Fast Shutter Speeds
• Purpose: Freeze motion.
• Speeds: Typically 1/500 second or faster. For very fast-moving subjects (like sports or wildlife), 1/1000 second or faster might be necessary.
• Effect: Captures sharp, clear details of moving subjects, such as a bird in flight or a car in motion.
• Applications: Sports, action photography, wildlife, or any situation where freezing motion is essential.
Slow Shutter Speeds
• Purpose: Show motion blur.
• Speeds: Slower than 1/30 second. Long exposures might last several seconds to minutes.
• Effect: Creates a sense of movement, such as blurred waterfalls, light trails from cars, or soft ocean waves.
• Applications: Creative shots, landscapes, night photography, and light painting.
Practical Tips
1. Fast Speeds:
• Use a higher ISO or a wide aperture to maintain proper exposure.
• Ideal for handheld shooting or bright environments.
2. Slow Speeds:
• Use a tripod to prevent camera shake.
• Consider using a neutral density (ND) filter in bright settings to avoid overexposure.
Creative Examples
• Fast Shutter: Capture athletes mid-air during a jump.
• Slow Shutter: Create dreamy, silky water effects in a waterfall photo.
Here’s a breakdown of specific scenarios and the recommended settings to capture motion using fast or slow shutter speeds:
Fast Shutter Speed Scenarios
1. Sports Photography (Freezing Action)
• Example: A basketball player dunking or a soccer kick.
• Settings:
• Shutter Speed: 1/1000 or faster.
• Aperture: Wide (e.g., f/2.8) to let in more light.
• ISO: 400–1600 (depending on lighting).
• Tip: Use continuous autofocus (AI Servo for Canon) and burst mode to track fast-moving subjects.
2. Wildlife (Birds in Flight)
• Example: Capturing a hawk in midair.
• Settings:
• Shutter Speed: 1/2000 or faster for very fast wings.
• Aperture: f/5.6 for enough depth of field to keep wings in focus.
• ISO: Start at 800 and adjust based on lighting.
• Tip: Use a monopod or image stabilization for heavy telephoto lenses.
3. Freezing Water Splash
• Example: Droplets of water splashing upward.
• Settings:
• Shutter Speed: 1/2000.
• Aperture: f/8 for sharpness and depth.
• ISO: 800 in bright light.
• Tip: Use artificial lighting like strobes or speedlights for sharper results.
Slow Shutter Speed Scenarios
1. Waterfall (Silky Smooth Water)
• Settings:
• Shutter Speed: 1–5 seconds.
• Aperture: f/11–f/16 for deep depth of field.
• ISO: 100 for maximum quality.
• Tip: Use a tripod and ND filter to prevent overexposure in bright daylight.
2. Light Trails (Car Headlights at Night)
• Settings:
• Shutter Speed: 10–30 seconds.
• Aperture: f/8–f/11 for proper exposure and sharpness.
• ISO: 100 or 200.
• Tip: Use a remote shutter release to avoid camera shake.
3. Panning Effect (Motion Blur with Subject in Focus)
• Example: A cyclist riding past you.
• Settings:
• Shutter Speed: 1/30 to 1/60.
• Aperture: f/8 for slight depth of field.
• ISO: Adjust for lighting (200–400).
• Technique: Move your camera to follow the subject’s motion while taking the shot.
4. Star Trails (Night Sky Photography)
• Settings:
• Shutter Speed: 15 minutes or longer.
• Aperture: f/4–f/5.6.
• ISO: 400–800.
• Tip: Combine multiple exposures in post-processing to reduce noise.
Gear Suggestions
• Fast Shutter: Use lenses with wide apertures like your 85mm f/1.2 for more light and faster focusing.
• Slow Shutter: Use a sturdy tripod and ND filters for creative long exposures.
