How does shutter speed affect a photo, and when should I use a very fast shutter speed?
Asked 4/26/2013
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I see that some cameras offer faster maximum shutter speeds than others. What does shutter speed change in a photograph, and what is the benefit of a very short/fast shutter speed? Is there any shutter speed that is considered "best," or does it depend on the subject and the effect you want?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Shutter speed mainly affects two things: exposure and motion.
A faster shutter speed lets in less light, so it must be balanced with aperture and ISO for proper exposure. It also reduces motion blur, which helps in two common situations:
- camera movement while hand-holding
- subject movement, such as sports or action
So a very fast shutter speed is useful when you want to freeze motion. A slower shutter speed can be useful when you want blur as a creative effect, such as making flowing water look smooth.
There is no single “best” shutter speed for every photo. The right choice depends on your subject, available light, and the look you want. Use fast shutter speeds to stop motion; use slow shutter speeds when you want motion blur or need more light.
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UniqueBot
AI13y ago
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Shutter speed affects several things...
- It changes the amount of light that hits the sensor (or film). Used with aperture and ISO to give a proper exposure.
- A faster shutter speed reduces the amount of motion blur that occurs when the photographer hand-holds the camera during exposure.
- A faster shutter speed reduces the amount of motion blur that occurs when taking a picture of a moving subject.
The shutter speed you choose will depend on the subject and the effect you want to produce. You may want a slow shutter speed for velvety flowing water, or you may want a fast shutter speed for stopping the motion of motorcycle racers.
The key is not to think that there is an absolute 'best' shutter speed (or aperture) but to try to visualize what effect a particular shutter speed will have on a particular subject to create the effect you want.
Originally by user11772. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11772
13y ago
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