Understanding Shutter Speed for Better Photos

When you’re just starting out in photography with a DSLR camera, one of the key camera settings to get familiar with is the shutter speed. The shutter speed controls how long the camera’s image sensor is exposed to light when taking a photo. Getting the right shutter speed is crucial for avoiding blurry shots from camera shake or motion blur.  

What Is Shutter Speed?

The shutter speed is expressed as a fraction that shows how long the shutter is open and the image sensor is exposed, such as 1/250th of a second or 1/60th of a second. The larger the denominator value, the faster the shutter speed. For example, 1/2000th is much faster than 1/60th.

Choosing the Right Shutter Speed

The ideal shutter speed depends on the shooting conditions and your creative goals. As a general rule, you want to use a faster shutter speed (like 1/500th or higher) when shooting moving subjects to freeze motion and prevent blur. For stationary subjects, you can use slower speeds like 1/60th or 1/30th.

However, another major factor is whether you are hand-holding the camera or not. If hand-holding, you’ll want to shoot at 1/focal length or faster to prevent camera shake blur. So if using a 100mm lens, try to stick to at least 1/100th of a second.

When using slower shutter speeds, you’ll need to stabilize the camera on a tripod or solid surface. Slower speeds like 1/15th or even several seconds can be used for creative effects like smoothing movement in waterfalls or light trails from car headlights.

In low light, you may need to use slower shutter speeds, which increases the risk of blur. Using a higher ISO can help you increase the shutter speed. Or use a flash to freeze motion with a faster shutter speed.

The shutter speed setting works in tandem with the aperture and ISO to get properly exposed images. Play around with different shutter speeds to really understand how it impacts your photos. With practice, you’ll be a master of this key camera setting.