DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHIC: Shutter speed

The shutter speed is one of two fundamental controls for regulating the brightness of your pictures. Your camera’s shutter speed setting works in tandem with the aperture to ensure that you can get a perfect exposure in a huge variety of lighting conditions.

Shutter speeds are easier to understand than apertures – as the scale used is far more straightforward. The speed – the duration for which the shutter is open – is measured in fractions of a second. A 1/1000 sec shutter speed lets through half as much light (all other things being the same) as a 1/500 sec setting.

The shutter speed range is much more extensive than that afforded by the aperture range on even the most expensive lenses. The top speed on many digital cameras is either 1/4000 sec or 1/8000 sec. The longest automatically set shutter speed is usually 30 seconds – allowing 17 or 18 more stops of light to reach the sensor (up to 250,000 times more light).

Use the Bulb mode setting and the shutter will remain open for as long as you keep the shutter release pressed, so can be stretched to whole minutes – or even hours.

Chances are you’ve figured this out already, even if you’re brand new to photography. But have you ever thought about how your camera shutter actually works to regulate the brightness of your photos?
Your camera’s shutter: so how does it actually work?

Shutter speed is one of those fundamental controls on our camera that we take for granted, but knowing how it works will give you the knowledge you need to start taking pictures with more authority. Our latest photography cheat sheets illustrate how each component of your camera’s shutter works in tandem.

Your camera’s shutter controls how long the sensor is exposed to light. It uses a pair of ‘curtains’ or blinds. One opens to start the exposure, and the other is closed to end it.

At slower shutter speeds, both curtains on your camera’s shutter are open for some of the exposure. At faster speeds (any speed above the ‘flash sync speed’ – 1/200sec on many models), the second curtain closes the opening as the first is still opening.

So your sensor is effectively exposed to the light through a moving slit. In our latest photography cheat sheets we’ve illustrated, first, how your camera shutter system uses its pair of curtains to expose an image through a moving slit; and in our second cheat sheet we’ve illustrated where each of the key components sit within your camera shutter, and how they work.

Your camera's shutter: so how does it actually work? (free photography cheat sheet)

Your camera's shutter: so how does it actually work? (free photography cheat sheet)

What is Shutter speed???

Shutter speed refers to the period of time the shutter is open to allow light in and the sensor. The shutter speed is calculated using the second (seconds) and usually lower than a second. Shutter speed 2 seconds will allow the entry of light over shutter speed 1/250 second for example.

Slow shutter speed = more light into the camera
Fast shutter speed = less light into the camera

Shutter - Speed

Now we will ignore just about aperture and shutter -speed look at only. In the dimly lit places, you will find that you have to use a slow shutter speed to get enough light for a good exposure.
In a bright light, you can use a shutter speed range from moderate to fast, but if slow or too slow will make the image becomes overexposed because too much light enters.
The effect appears to approximate the aperture is not it? But the cause of the image is not getting the proper exposure for the aperture and shutter speed are different. Reread the above article to understand the aperture and shutter speed.
Before we go into a relationship of aperture and shutter -speed, let's look at the creative effects that can be produced by the shutter speed.
Freezing & Blurring Using Shutter - Speed
If you can manipulate using the aperture Depth Of Field to get creative results, the shutter - speed, you can also come up with something creative to freeze (freezing) the movement of an object, especially a fast and make the blur effect (blur) the image.
Action sports usually occurs quickly and with your regular camera will not take pictures with attractive and sharp. To stop / frozen right movement athletes, sports vehicles and so on, shutter -speed is set at a fast speed in which the shutter open overnight to capture the movement of the object. See the picture below:
Shutter -speed example

Image come from: http://dululainsekaranglain.com/fotografi/asas-fotografi-memahami-aperture-dan-shutter-speed/attachment/shutter-speed-example

At slow speeds 1/15 second, the shutter open longer and result looks like there is a shadow on the back of the above. But the fast speed of 1/200 second, the fruit can be frozen and the resulting sharp and bright picture.

Rule of Thumbs: "While hand holding a camera, you shouldn't have a shutter speed slower than the reciprocal of the focal length of the lens". If you do not use a tripod, then this rule should you follow to prevent picture blur or shake when taken. Under this rule, if you are using a lens with a focal length of 100mm, so you can not select a shutter speed of less than 1/200 second.

Sometimes even using a slow shutter speed and make the image blur is an interesting and creative. See the picture below: