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What is Shutter Speed: An In-Depth Explanation
by Keenan Hursh
In today’s world of incredibly advanced digital photography, there are so many elements of creating a photograph that you can control. Cameras keep getting more advanced and the addition of powerful new features and technologies allows us to capture light in ways never before possible.
But all these exciting new features are pretty much worthless without a thorough understanding of the basics. As Isaac Newton once said: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” and this is certainly true when it comes to camera technology. You must first understand the basic elements that control how light enters a camera and creates an image to fully take advantage of everything that comes after that.
I’m talking of course about the exposure triangle. The most basic building blocks of controlling how light enters your camera and creates an image. This is likely something you have all heard of before and many of you have likely mastered this delicate balancing act. Regardless, these are the fundamentals of manually controlling your camera and I think that each pillar of the triangle deserves its time in the spotlight with a thorough breakdown and explanation.
The Exposure triangle consists of three essential elements: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. By manually controlling these three elements you can control exactly how light enters your camera and alters the image that is produced. These are the giants that everything else stands upon.
In today’s article, we’re going to focus on one pillar of this triangle and that is shutter speed. Stay tuned for articles covering both aperture and ISO over the coming days. So, what exactly is shutter speed? How does it work? How does it affect the look and feel of an image? And what are the proper uses of specific shutter speeds for different styles of photography? Keep reading to find out. Let’s get into it and take a deep dive into the world of shutter speeds!
But all these exciting new features are pretty much worthless without a thorough understanding of the basics. As Isaac Newton once said: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” and this is certainly true when it comes to camera technology. You must first understand the basic elements that control how light enters a camera and creates an image to fully take advantage of everything that comes after that.
I’m talking of course about the exposure triangle. The most basic building blocks of controlling how light enters your camera and creates an image. This is likely something you have all heard of before and many of you have likely mastered this delicate balancing act. Regardless, these are the fundamentals of manually controlling your camera and I think that each pillar of the triangle deserves its time in the spotlight with a thorough breakdown and explanation.
The Exposure triangle consists of three essential elements: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. By manually controlling these three elements you can control exactly how light enters your camera and alters the image that is produced. These are the giants that everything else stands upon.
In today’s article, we’re going to focus on one pillar of this triangle and that is shutter speed. Stay tuned for articles covering both aperture and ISO over the coming days. So, what exactly is shutter speed? How does it work? How does it affect the look and feel of an image? And what are the proper uses of specific shutter speeds for different styles of photography? Keep reading to find out. Let’s get into it and take a deep dive into the world of shutter speeds!
What is Shutter Speed?
Let’s start with a basic description: Shutter speed is the length of time that a camera's shutter remains open, allowing light to reach the image sensor or film. It is measured in seconds or fractions of a second. The fundamental purpose of shutter speed is to control the amount of light that enters the camera and strikes the sensor or film during exposure. It plays a crucial role in determining the brightness and sharpness of the resulting image.
Imagine your shutter as a small gate or door that opens up to let light into your camera. Shutter speed is quite simply the amount of time this gate or door is open. If it’s open for a longer period of time, more light will enter your camera and if it’s open for a shorter period of time, less light will enter your camera.
Let’s take a look at the mechanics of how a shutter works by diving into the inner workings of a camera. When you press the shutter release button to take a photo, it triggers the opening and closing of the camera's shutter. When the shutter is open, light passes through the lens, reaching the image sensor or film. When the shutter closes light can no longer enter your camera and the exposure has ended. The duration for which the shutter remains open determines the amount of light that enters the camera, thus directly influencing the exposure of the photograph.
The shutter consists of two curtains: the first curtain initially covers the image sensor, and when the shutter is triggered, it quickly moves to reveal the sensor. The second curtain follows, closing the shutter and ending the exposure. These curtains move incredibly fast, and their movement would be impossible to see with the naked eye. The time it takes for both curtains to move determines the shutter speed. When you hear that satisfying click every time you take a photo, that is the mechanical sound of the shutter curtains opening and closing.
It’s also worth noting that many modern mirrorless cameras can now use electronic shutters which means that instead of having a physical shutter consisting of curtains that open and close these cameras are constantly letting light in and when you capture an image the camera is simply reading the information that’s currently on the sensor for a given amount of time. You can still select different shutter speeds but the way in which the sensor is capturing that light is different. They are entirely silent and allow photographers to shoot at higher burst modes. Electronic shutters are a bit difficult to explain and this topic could easily be an entire article by itself. At the end of the day, the same basic principles apply to both mechanical and electronic shutters, you’re simply controlling how long your sensor is absorbing light.
Let’s start with a basic description: Shutter speed is the length of time that a camera's shutter remains open, allowing light to reach the image sensor or film. It is measured in seconds or fractions of a second. The fundamental purpose of shutter speed is to control the amount of light that enters the camera and strikes the sensor or film during exposure. It plays a crucial role in determining the brightness and sharpness of the resulting image.
Imagine your shutter as a small gate or door that opens up to let light into your camera. Shutter speed is quite simply the amount of time this gate or door is open. If it’s open for a longer period of time, more light will enter your camera and if it’s open for a shorter period of time, less light will enter your camera.
Let’s take a look at the mechanics of how a shutter works by diving into the inner workings of a camera. When you press the shutter release button to take a photo, it triggers the opening and closing of the camera's shutter. When the shutter is open, light passes through the lens, reaching the image sensor or film. When the shutter closes light can no longer enter your camera and the exposure has ended. The duration for which the shutter remains open determines the amount of light that enters the camera, thus directly influencing the exposure of the photograph.
The shutter consists of two curtains: the first curtain initially covers the image sensor, and when the shutter is triggered, it quickly moves to reveal the sensor. The second curtain follows, closing the shutter and ending the exposure. These curtains move incredibly fast, and their movement would be impossible to see with the naked eye. The time it takes for both curtains to move determines the shutter speed. When you hear that satisfying click every time you take a photo, that is the mechanical sound of the shutter curtains opening and closing.
It’s also worth noting that many modern mirrorless cameras can now use electronic shutters which means that instead of having a physical shutter consisting of curtains that open and close these cameras are constantly letting light in and when you capture an image the camera is simply reading the information that’s currently on the sensor for a given amount of time. You can still select different shutter speeds but the way in which the sensor is capturing that light is different. They are entirely silent and allow photographers to shoot at higher burst modes. Electronic shutters are a bit difficult to explain and this topic could easily be an entire article by itself. At the end of the day, the same basic principles apply to both mechanical and electronic shutters, you’re simply controlling how long your sensor is absorbing light.
How does Shutter Speed Affect an Image?
Now that we’ve covered how shutter speed works and what exactly it is, let’s take a look at how it alters the look and feel of an image. As it turns out the specific shutter speed you select can completely alter the final result of a photograph.
One of the most remarkable features of shutter speed is its ability to freeze or blur motion. As previously mentioned, shutter speed is a measurement of time, so by choosing an appropriate shutter speed, you can either freeze the action, resulting in a sharp and crisp image, or intentionally introduce motion blur to convey a sense of movement.
A fast shutter speed, such as 1/1000th of a second or faster, is ideal for freezing fast-moving subjects like athletes playing sports, quickly moving wildlife, or a speeding car. With a fast shutter speed, you can capture a precise moment without any motion blur. This is particularly important when you want to freeze the action and capture details that might otherwise be lost.
On the other hand, a slower shutter speed, like 1/30th of a second or slower, can create a beautiful motion blur. This technique is often used in situations where you want to convey a sense of movement or capture the passage of time. Slower shutter speeds can be used to capture flowing water in landscape photography, create light trails in long-exposure shots, or even portray the bustling energy of a busy street scene.
It’s worth noting that the slower you go, the more stable your camera will need to be. Modern mirrorless cameras have built-in image stabilization, and many modern lenses have great optical stabilization as well allowing photographers to shoot at slower and slower shutter speeds handheld. That being said, it’s never a bad idea to use a tripod and if you’re shooting an exposure longer than 1 second, I would recommend using one regardless of how advanced your setup is.
Now that we’ve covered how shutter speed works and what exactly it is, let’s take a look at how it alters the look and feel of an image. As it turns out the specific shutter speed you select can completely alter the final result of a photograph.
One of the most remarkable features of shutter speed is its ability to freeze or blur motion. As previously mentioned, shutter speed is a measurement of time, so by choosing an appropriate shutter speed, you can either freeze the action, resulting in a sharp and crisp image, or intentionally introduce motion blur to convey a sense of movement.
A fast shutter speed, such as 1/1000th of a second or faster, is ideal for freezing fast-moving subjects like athletes playing sports, quickly moving wildlife, or a speeding car. With a fast shutter speed, you can capture a precise moment without any motion blur. This is particularly important when you want to freeze the action and capture details that might otherwise be lost.
On the other hand, a slower shutter speed, like 1/30th of a second or slower, can create a beautiful motion blur. This technique is often used in situations where you want to convey a sense of movement or capture the passage of time. Slower shutter speeds can be used to capture flowing water in landscape photography, create light trails in long-exposure shots, or even portray the bustling energy of a busy street scene.
It’s worth noting that the slower you go, the more stable your camera will need to be. Modern mirrorless cameras have built-in image stabilization, and many modern lenses have great optical stabilization as well allowing photographers to shoot at slower and slower shutter speeds handheld. That being said, it’s never a bad idea to use a tripod and if you’re shooting an exposure longer than 1 second, I would recommend using one regardless of how advanced your setup is.
What Shutter Speed Should You Use for a Specific Style of Photography?
Having so many available options in shutter speed opens up a world of creative possibilities. Various shutter speeds yield different effects and can dramatically alter the look and feel of your photographs. Because of this, different styles of photography often demand different approaches to shutter speed. Of course, these are just rough guidelines and it’s always worthwhile to experiment.
Wildlife and Sports Photography:
When it comes to capturing the fast-paced action and quick movements of wildlife or sports subjects, using fast shutter speeds is essential. A shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second or faster is often recommended in these situations. This high shutter speed allows you to freeze the moment and capture the subject in sharp detail, ensuring that every movement and expression is preserved. Whether it's a sprinting cheetah or a basketball player in mid-air, a fast shutter speed enables you to capture the precise moment of action in razor-sharp detail without any motion blur.
It's also quite common to use telephoto or super-telephoto lenses in these styles of photography to get you up close and personal with a subject. Because these lenses have such high focal lengths and zoom in so far you also have to take into account the movement of the camera and lens itself. If you’re shooting handheld at 600mm, any tiny movements you make will be magnified in your image. A good rule of thumb to reduce this effect with telephoto lenses is to put a 1 over your focal length. So, if you’re shooting at 800mm you wouldn’t want to go below 1/800th of a second. With modern cameras and powerful stabilization, you can definitely go slower, but this is a good rule of thumb to follow regardless.
Landscape Photography:
In landscape photography, you are often much less constrained. It’s common for landscape photographers to use tripods and shoot with wide-angle lenses that capture a very wide field of view. Because of this, there is much more flexibility in choosing shutter speed. If you want to freeze movement choose a short shutter speed, if you want to portray the passage of time choose a long shutter speed. The choice is yours.
It’s very common to convey a sense of serenity and the passage of time in landscape photography and slower shutter speeds can help achieve this desired effect. Shutter speeds in the range of 1/4th to several seconds are commonly used to capture the movement of flowing water or the drifting of clouds. With a slower shutter speed, the water appears smooth and silky, creating a calming effect and portraying smooth motion. Similarly, longer shutter speeds can capture the soft movement of clouds, transforming a static landscape into a dreamy and ethereal scene.
It ultimately depends on how you, as the photographer, want to portray a scene but with wider lenses and the use of a tripod landscape photography often allows you to choose from a wide range of shutter speeds.
Low-Light Photography:
When shooting in low-light conditions, such as at night or in dimly lit environments, longer shutter speeds are often necessary to capture enough light. The darkness or lack of environmental light requires the sensor to be exposed to light for a longer duration. Shutter speeds ranging from a few seconds to several minutes can be employed to capture the ambient light of stars for example. These longer exposures, often upwards of 20-30 seconds, can create stunning long-exposure images, revealing the beauty of the night sky or creating captivating light trails from moving objects. It's important to use a tripod to prevent any camera shake or unwanted movement during these longer exposures.
Remember, these suggested shutter speeds are starting points and can vary depending on the specific situation, lighting conditions, and the creative vision of the photographer. Experimentation and adapting to the specific requirements of each photographic style will help you find the ideal shutter speed for capturing stunning images in wildlife and sports, landscape, and low-light photography.
Having so many available options in shutter speed opens up a world of creative possibilities. Various shutter speeds yield different effects and can dramatically alter the look and feel of your photographs. Because of this, different styles of photography often demand different approaches to shutter speed. Of course, these are just rough guidelines and it’s always worthwhile to experiment.
Wildlife and Sports Photography:
When it comes to capturing the fast-paced action and quick movements of wildlife or sports subjects, using fast shutter speeds is essential. A shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second or faster is often recommended in these situations. This high shutter speed allows you to freeze the moment and capture the subject in sharp detail, ensuring that every movement and expression is preserved. Whether it's a sprinting cheetah or a basketball player in mid-air, a fast shutter speed enables you to capture the precise moment of action in razor-sharp detail without any motion blur.
It's also quite common to use telephoto or super-telephoto lenses in these styles of photography to get you up close and personal with a subject. Because these lenses have such high focal lengths and zoom in so far you also have to take into account the movement of the camera and lens itself. If you’re shooting handheld at 600mm, any tiny movements you make will be magnified in your image. A good rule of thumb to reduce this effect with telephoto lenses is to put a 1 over your focal length. So, if you’re shooting at 800mm you wouldn’t want to go below 1/800th of a second. With modern cameras and powerful stabilization, you can definitely go slower, but this is a good rule of thumb to follow regardless.
Landscape Photography:
In landscape photography, you are often much less constrained. It’s common for landscape photographers to use tripods and shoot with wide-angle lenses that capture a very wide field of view. Because of this, there is much more flexibility in choosing shutter speed. If you want to freeze movement choose a short shutter speed, if you want to portray the passage of time choose a long shutter speed. The choice is yours.
It’s very common to convey a sense of serenity and the passage of time in landscape photography and slower shutter speeds can help achieve this desired effect. Shutter speeds in the range of 1/4th to several seconds are commonly used to capture the movement of flowing water or the drifting of clouds. With a slower shutter speed, the water appears smooth and silky, creating a calming effect and portraying smooth motion. Similarly, longer shutter speeds can capture the soft movement of clouds, transforming a static landscape into a dreamy and ethereal scene.
It ultimately depends on how you, as the photographer, want to portray a scene but with wider lenses and the use of a tripod landscape photography often allows you to choose from a wide range of shutter speeds.
Low-Light Photography:
When shooting in low-light conditions, such as at night or in dimly lit environments, longer shutter speeds are often necessary to capture enough light. The darkness or lack of environmental light requires the sensor to be exposed to light for a longer duration. Shutter speeds ranging from a few seconds to several minutes can be employed to capture the ambient light of stars for example. These longer exposures, often upwards of 20-30 seconds, can create stunning long-exposure images, revealing the beauty of the night sky or creating captivating light trails from moving objects. It's important to use a tripod to prevent any camera shake or unwanted movement during these longer exposures.
Remember, these suggested shutter speeds are starting points and can vary depending on the specific situation, lighting conditions, and the creative vision of the photographer. Experimentation and adapting to the specific requirements of each photographic style will help you find the ideal shutter speed for capturing stunning images in wildlife and sports, landscape, and low-light photography.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. Shutter speed is a critical tool in any photographer's arsenal and by understanding exactly what it is, how it works, and its different applications you can gain the ability to control exposure and capture time in captivating ways. Experimenting with different shutter speeds in various situations will allow you to achieve a wide range of effects and unleash your artistic vision.
As you continue to explore and practice with shutter speed, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how it interacts with other elements of photography, such as aperture and ISO. As with anything, the best way to understand it is to get out and practice. By mastering shutter speed, you'll have the power to freeze moments, convey movement, and create visually stunning images that evoke emotion and tell stories. So, get out there and embrace the endless possibilities of using a wide range of shutter speeds to let your creativity flourish in the world of photography. Until next time!
To learn more about Shutter Speed and the exposure triangle, be sure to check out these additional articles from BCJ:
Understanding the Exposure Triangle - Kenton Krueger
Understanding Exposure: A Comprehensive Look into Shutter Speed - Matt Meisenheimer
Understanding Shutter Speed - Chris Gheen
Well, there you have it. Shutter speed is a critical tool in any photographer's arsenal and by understanding exactly what it is, how it works, and its different applications you can gain the ability to control exposure and capture time in captivating ways. Experimenting with different shutter speeds in various situations will allow you to achieve a wide range of effects and unleash your artistic vision.
As you continue to explore and practice with shutter speed, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how it interacts with other elements of photography, such as aperture and ISO. As with anything, the best way to understand it is to get out and practice. By mastering shutter speed, you'll have the power to freeze moments, convey movement, and create visually stunning images that evoke emotion and tell stories. So, get out there and embrace the endless possibilities of using a wide range of shutter speeds to let your creativity flourish in the world of photography. Until next time!
To learn more about Shutter Speed and the exposure triangle, be sure to check out these additional articles from BCJ:
Understanding the Exposure Triangle - Kenton Krueger
Understanding Exposure: A Comprehensive Look into Shutter Speed - Matt Meisenheimer
Understanding Shutter Speed - Chris Gheen
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AUTHOR
Keenan is an avid photographer, digital creator, and lover of the outdoors currently based out of Bozeman, Montana. He is originally from Boulder, Colorado where he developed a deep passion for getting outside and pursuing outdoor activities including skiing, cycling, hiking, rafting, backpacking and more. Recently he has developed new passions for paragliding as well as designing and sewing outdoor adventure gear for cyclists and hikers.
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images. He pursues a wide range of photography styles primarily shooting landscapes, wildlife, adventure photography, and enjoys shooting analog on 35mm film every now and then.
Since graduating from the University of Denver with a degree in Emergent Digital Practices, Keenan has pursued a professional career in digital marketing, graphic design, and content creation. He has benefitted a wide range of companies and organizations from small start-ups to well known agencies and brands.
You can view Keenan’s photography and graphic design work on his website at www.keenanhurshmedia.com
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images. He pursues a wide range of photography styles primarily shooting landscapes, wildlife, adventure photography, and enjoys shooting analog on 35mm film every now and then.
Since graduating from the University of Denver with a degree in Emergent Digital Practices, Keenan has pursued a professional career in digital marketing, graphic design, and content creation. He has benefitted a wide range of companies and organizations from small start-ups to well known agencies and brands.
You can view Keenan’s photography and graphic design work on his website at www.keenanhurshmedia.com
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations include Yosemite, Alaska, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Hawaii, Utah as well as Botswana & Costa Rica."
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
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