Shutter Speed: Controlling Motion

Shutter speed refers to how long the camera’s shutter remains open when taking a photo. Think of it as a curtained window opening and closing in a dark room. When the shutter is open it allows light to pass into the film or onto the digital sensor which records light. The more time the shutter is open, the more exposed (bright) the image will be. Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second (e.g., 1/500s, 1/60s, 1s). 

The Importance of understanding shutter speed is that it controls the motion in an image, which can be used creatively to enhance the message of that particular image. 

A faster shutter speed (e.g., 1/1000s) freezes fast-moving subjects, making it ideal for sports or wildlife photography. 

While a slower shutter speed (e.g., 1/10s) allows more light into the sensor and creates motion blur, which can be used creatively for long-exposure photography, such as capturing light trails or silky waterfalls.

Effects of Shutter Speed:

As you can see the Image shot with a shutter speed of 1/500 has captured motion during one of the fastest racket sports in the world in complete stillness. There is no movement at all, no motion blur or ICM. This shows how a fast shutter speed can catch even the fastest of movements.  

The Second Image shows the effects of ICM (intentional Camera Movement). This is done by using a slow shutter speed, In this case 1/40 and while taking the photo moving the camera. In this case I moved the camera up and probably a bit to the right. The effect is a painting-like effect, showing the trees in a surrealistic way.   

2. Aperture: Depth of Field and Light Control

Aperture is the opening in the camera lens that regulates how much light passes through to the sensor. It is measured in f-stops (e.g., f/2.8, f/8, f/16). A lower f-stop (e.g., f/1.8) results in a wider aperture, allowing more light in and creating a shallow depth of field which is perfect for portraits because of the blurred background (bokeh) which helps the subject have separation from the background. A higher f-stop (e.g., f/16) narrows the aperture, reducing light intake and increasing depth of field, making it ideal for landscape photography where you’d want everything to be in focus.

Effects of Aperture:

• Wide apertures (low f-stop) brighten images and create a shallow depth of field.

• Narrow apertures (high f-stop) darken images and produce a greater depth of field.

As you can see in the above Images, the Image shot with F/2.8 has a lot of separation between the subject which is the player who is in focus and the background (the match) which is out of focus. While the Image shot at F/11 has everything in focus and there is almost no separation.  

3. ISO: Sensitivity to Light

ISO determines how sensitive your Film stock is to light. A low ISO (e.g., ISO 100) is best for bright conditions and produces minimal noise, resulting in sharp images. A high ISO (e.g., ISO 3200) is useful in low-light settings but introduces grain which loses detail, Especially in the shadows.  

Effects of ISO:

• Low ISO (100-400) ensures clean, sharp images in well-lit conditions.

• High ISO (800+) allows shooting in darker environments but increases grain levels.

As you can see from the above Images, the Film pulled to 100 ISO is much more sharp with little grain while the Film pushed to 1600 ISO has much more grain which loses details, especially in the shadows. 

Balancing the Exposure Triangle

Mastering the exposure triangle is about finding the right balance between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Adjusting one setting requires compensating with the others to maintain proper exposure. For example, if you increase the shutter speed to freeze motion, you may need to widen the aperture or raise the ISO to compensate for reduced light. Similarly, if you want a deep depth of field, narrowing the aperture means you might need to slow down the shutter speed or increase the ISO.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the exposure triangle gives you greater creative control over your photography. Whether you’re shooting fast action, low-light scenes, or portraits with beautiful bokeh, knowing how to manipulate shutter speed, aperture, and ISO will help you achieve your desired results. Practise experimenting with different settings, and soon, adjusting exposure will become second nature.