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DAY 71 | PHOTOGRAPHY 101 |
The Shutter and Motion
TO BLUR OR NOT TO BLUR...
Shutter speed determines the amount of light that contributes to the exposure. It also enables us to capture motion.
One thing you may notice in some of your photographs is that some of the subjects are blurred from movement. Hands and feet are especially subject to this problem. Normal activity can usually be captured with a setting of 1/60th of a second. Faster movement will require a faster shutter speed to capture it properly.
Sports activities, in particular are a problem, as is dancing. I often shoot events of both of these types and recommend the following settings on your camera to properly capture the following types of activities:
Ballet: 1/125th
Tap Dancing: 1/250th
Basketball and Baseball: 1/400th
Football: 1/800th
If you’re feeling creative, or want to show movement, you can set the shutter speed too low for the situation in order to purposely record blur, as seen in this photograph of a bike race.
Of course, these are subject to individual circumstances. A group of beginning tap dancers, for example, will dance at a slower speed than professionals who have been studying for many years. The best way to determine the proper shutter speed for your particular situation is to change the settings and shoot a few exposures at each setting. Immediately check the screen on the back of your camera if it is digital, and use your zoom feature to take a close look at the hands and feet of your subject. If they are blurry, choose the next fastest speed. Check again until you have reached a speed that adequately stops the movement. —CWN