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Choosing a correct shutter speed for the appropriate situation can help you add depth and creativity to your pictures. Shutter speeds can be either very fast or very slow. The shutter speed on your camera ranges from 30 to 1/4000 (meaning the shutter opens from 30 seconds to 1/4000th of a second). Let’s talk about these speeds for a moment. The most frequently used shutter speeds lie within the range of 1/60 to 1/500th of a second. This is a typical range used for everyday picture taking. Camera speeds slower than 1/60 will normally require a tripod to avoid blurring the entire picture. Faster shutter speeds are found in the range of 1/500 to 1/4000.
Here is an image that was captured with a fast shutter speed. You can actually see the helicopter's blades and it does not capture much motion.This image was taken with a slow shutter speed.
When the camera displays shutter speed with a second marker, this tells the user that this is a measurement of seconds. When no “seconds marker” is displayed this is considered a measurement of fractions of a second. For example 8” with a seconds marker is 8 seconds, the number 8 without a second’s marker is one 8th of a second. You can view this information on the LCD panel and through the camera’s viewfinder.
Let’s explore many of these options by completing the assignments.
Assignments
Head to a garden or even your backyard and locate a bug. Yes, a bug. If you have a pesky fly near your desk keep him in sight. Photograph the bug when in flight using a shutter speed of 1/2000 to 1/4000. Continue to shoot the bug; shooting at these speeds should freeze the bug’s wings.
Go to a local sporting even to capture some action. Don’t worry about your image’s composition for this assignment. Use shutter speeds between 1/500 and 1/1000 to freeze the action at this sporting event. Try and get as close to the subjects as your can to get the best return of your shutter speed experimentation.
From previous assignments you know what modes work best for portraits. Round up your subject from the previous assignment, or a different subject if necessary, and shoot them in manual mode using a shutter speed of 1/125 to 1/500. If you are getting the hang of this bring multiple subjects into your frame.
Next, find a source of running water. You are going to blur the falling water, an added effect. You can even use your kitchen sink for this assignment. Set your shutter speed between 1/8 and 1/60. Continue taking shots until the desired effect is achieved. Move between subjects finding a waterfall or a fountain.
You also learned from past assignments what mode works best for shooting at night. Shutter speed affects also affects this quality. Find an ideal subject after sunset and shoot it with shutter speeds between 8” and 30.” Pay close attention to the amount of light being let in with the different shutter speeds and the amount of blur this shutter speed adds to light.