The Basics of PhotoGRAPHY - Shutter Speed
February 26, 2010 
Since you hang in there with me through thick and thin...
Since you stop back and keep reading even though I write about somewhat unappetizing subject matter from time to time...
Since you let me blather on and on about pretty much whatever I feel like, whever I feel like it...
I thought I would actually share with you something you might find useful: a little tutorial on shutter speed.
Now listen up...
This will be BASIC.
This will be rudimentary.
This will be simple and in laywoman's language.
This will be something that I, myself, a fledgling photographer, can wrap my pea-sized brain around.
If you've got photography experience, or crazier yet, are a professional photographer... You might as well stop reading now because I'm sure this will be old hat to you.
However, if you're like me -- a laywomanish (or laymanish, I don't discriminate), fledgling, pea-brained amateur... My friend, you're in the right place.
I have to stop talking now and get down to it because photography tuturial posts usually take longer than my usual drivel and also take some focus and organization, so my usual drivel just will not do. Will. not. do. at. all.
Time to get serious.
Or not.
Photography is fun!
But it can be confusing and sometimes scary, so I'm hoping I can clear up a thing or two for you today.
Just remember, if I can do it, YOU can do it.
So, shutter speed...
What is shutter speed, anyway?
If you think of your camera as an eye, you can think of shutter speed as your camera 'blinking'. However, instead of shutting out light, as we do when we close our eyes, the shutter is letting in light. How fast or slow your camera 'blinks' is directly related to how much light is let in.
So using this eye idea... The longer you keep your eyes closed, the less light that gets in, right? Similarly, the longer your shutter is open, the more light that gets in.
A SLOWER shutter speed lets in MORE LIGHT. Why? Because a SLOWER shutter speed means the shutter is open longer, thus allowing MORE LIGHT to come in.
A FASTER shutter speed lets in LESS LIGHT. Why? Because a FASTER shutter speed means the shutter is open for less time, thus letting in LESS LIGHT.
Confused yet?
Repeat this ten times to yourself:
SLOWER SHUTTER SPEED = MORE LIGHT
FASTER SHUTTER SPEED = LESS LIGHT
SLOWER SHUTTER SPEED = MORE LIGHT
FASTER SHUTTER SPEED = LESS LIGHT
SLOWER SHUTTER SPEED = MORE LIGHT
FASTER SHUTTER SPEED = LESS LIGHT
SLOWER SHUTTER SPEED = MORE LIGHT
FASTER SHUTTER SPEED = LESS LIGHT
SLOWER SHUTTER SPEED = MORE LIGHT
FASTER SHUTTER SPEED = LESS LIGHT
Okay, I only did it five times. But you do it ten! I'll know if you don't. My pea-size brain can sense these things.
Shutter speed is measured as a fraction of a one second, called a reciprocal second. The shutter speed on my Nikon D70 ranges from 1 second to 1/8000 of a second. However, when I read the shutter speed information on my view finder, it doesn't show the value as a fraction. It shows 1 second as '1', and 1/8000 of a second as '8000'.
Confusing, right? As if photography wasn't challenging enough already? And now we have to do math?
All you have to remember is this: If your camera displays shutter speed like mine, all you have to remember is to put a 1/ in front of the number. So, if the display says '4000', it means 1/4000 of a second. If it says '125', it means 1/125 of a second.
O.k., enough photobabble. Let's just put this idea into practice...
This morning I was greeted by a beautiful sunrise. I decided to use it to demonstrate the principles of shutter speed. For all of the following pictures, my aperture was set at f4.5. My ISO was set at 1600 (which is much higher than I would have liked, but I forgot it was on that setting... oh well.) Someday I will hopefully get around to talking to you about aperture and ISO setting as well, but we're not going to go down either of those long and winding roads today.
For today, just remember that the only thing that varied from picture to picture was shutter speed.
Here is photo #1. Shutter speed is 1/250 of a second...
Photo #2: Shutter speed is 1/500 of a second...
Photo #3: Shutter speed is 1/1250 of a second...
Photo #4: Shutter speed is 1/1600 of a second...
Photo #5: Shutter speed is at 1/5000 of a second...
Photo #6: Shutter speed is 1/8000 of a second...
Are you starting to sense a pattern here? Photo #1 shows an example of letting in a lot of light (i.e. SLOWER shutter speed, 1/250), while Photo #6 shows and example of NOT letting in a lot of light (i.e. FASTER shutter speed, 1/8000), and the other photos show values in between.
Now it's starting to make sense, right?
Things are 'clicking'?
Right?
Anyone?
Did I lose you way back at the eyeball analogy?
That's o.k., because next week I will make some time to talk to you about the light meter in your viewfinder, and it will make this whole concept of shutter speed easier to handle.
For now, go forth! Start clicking!!! Leave your other camera settings alone (I'd suggest an aperture of 4.5 and ISO of 320 or so) and take pictures of the same subject (preferably something with a lot of natural light hanging around it) with different shutter speeds.
No flashes aloud! It is forbidden!
I will know if you use your flash. My pea-sized brain can sense these things.
And you know what? If you feel like it, and you have questions, leave them in the comments or email them to me at farmergalsmarket@yahoo.com and I will try to help you out!
Fledglings, go forth!
Reader Comments (4)
First, thank you!!! I've been trying to figure this stuff out for forever, and you have begun explaining this in terms that I can actually understand! Woo-hoo!
Second, I have a Nikon D60 (which is hopefully similar enough to yours for you to answer the following question). How do I change the shutter speed? Mine appears to be on auto... Help!
Thanks a ton!
Kim - I took a quick look at the D60 online and it looks pretty similar to my D70, so I think I can help you.
First, make sure your mode dial is set to either M (manual) or S (shutter speed priority). In M, you must also select the aperture setting. In S, the camera will figure out the best aperture for whatever you are shooting, and you will control the shutter speed. If you're not yet familiar with setting your aperture, putting the mode dial on S is probably the easiest way to go for now.
Now, if you look at your camera from the back side, there is a dial on the top right. It's black and only a bit of it is showing; the rest is inside the camera. When you roll this dial to the left (clockwise) it should let more light in (slower shutter speed), and to the right (counterclockwise) will let less light in (faster shutter speed). Play around with it.
On may camera I have a separate dial for setting the aperture, but didn't see this on your camera, so I did a little snooping around. I found out that on yours, the same dial controls shutter speed and aperture. To adjust shutter speed, just roll the dial (either M mode or S mode). To adjust aperture (either in M mode or A mode) it looks like you have to hold down the +/- button as you roll the dial.
Hope this helps! :)
You're the best!
Thanks, again!
K Peabrain!
I had to repeat it not 10 times but 20 times! Then I reread, then I looked at the pictures again, then I reread. Then I understood.
Love you for that!
Love
BB Brain!