What is shutter speed?

The shutter speed refers to the length of time the opening in the lens remains open to let light into the camera and onto the sensor. The shutter speed can be as fast as 1/10,000 of a second or as slow as several minutes.

How does your choice of shutter speed affect the photograph?

Fast shutter speeds have the effect of freezing motion in the scene you are photographing. Conversely, slow shutter speeds will blur motion in a scene. Both of these can be used to great creative effect.

The chart below shows how different shutter speeds would effect the sense of motion if you were photographing a person running. Fast shutter speeds will freeze the motion. This technique is often used in sports photography. The slower the shutter speed becomes, the more blurred the person running becomes in the photograph.

FROZEN MOTION: FAST SHUTTER SPEED

BLURRED MOTION:SLOW SHUTTER SPEED

GOAL: Using the Tv (Shutter Priority Mode) complete 10 photographs. Take 5 using a fast shutter speed and take 5 using a slow shutter speed. Title the assignment Shutter Priority and upload Motion Blur for slow speeds and Frozen Motion for fast speeds.