Shutter speed controls the duration that the camera shutter is open, allowing light to enter and expose the image sensor. The longer the shutter is open, the more light is captured but movement becomes blurred, while very fast shutter speeds freeze motion but require more light. Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second and is adjusted to either freeze or convey motion, depending on the photographic intent. Fast shutter speeds are used to freeze action while slow shutter speeds blur movement. Camera shake is also more likely at slower shutter speeds without a tripod.

1. Shutter Speed

2. What is a shutter? It's less complicated than you might think. Every camera body has a shutter. Cameras have blades/curtains that open and close when you press the shutter button to expose your image.

3. What is Shutter Speed? Speed refers to how longs the shutters are open (i.e. how much light is let in)

4. It controls the motion or movement with in a photograph. Is the picture frozen or blurred?

5. Shutter speed is measured in seconds and fractions of seconds.

6. The longer the shutter is open the more light that is let in.

7. Controlling Shutter Speed Where do you go to control shutter speed on your camera? Look on the dial of your camera for TV (Canon) which stands for Time Value or S (Nikon) which stands for Shutter. On this exposure mode you choose the shutter speed and your camera will choose the aperture to give the correct exposure.

9. F-Stops Available Shutter Speeds Listed are the different shutter speeds. Some cameras will go longer or shorter depending on the brand.

10. Some cameras also have additional speeds in between.

11. With each stop you increase (double) or decrease (halve) the amount of light.

12. Photographers use 1/60 th as a middle ground.

13. Fast verses Slow Fast shutter speeds freeze movement making the subject appear sharp and crisp. Slow shutter speeds show movement so the subject blurs showing movement.