Shutter Speed

Shutter Speed

Basically defined, the shutter speed is the amount of time that the shutter is open. As the shutter speed slows down, the image will get lighter and the reason you don't see this in images, is because when the shutter speed is changed, the camera changes aperture and keeps the expose constant.

If the shutter speed is fast, the shorter the time the image sensor is exposed to the light. And if the shutter speed is slow, the longer the time the image senor is exposed to light.

For example, if taking an image of movement there will be a variety of effect at different shutter speeds. Shutter speed is measure in seconds, and in most cases, fractions of seconds. The bigger the denominator the faster the shutter speed. For example:

1/1000 is faster than 1/30

If a slow shutter seed is being used, then a tripod or some other type of image stabilisation will be required.  A shutter speed slower than 1/60 will normally blur motion and therefore, requires to be stabilized.

Fast                    Shutter Speed                Slow

Stop                       Movement                   Blur

An image taken using a fast shutter speed:

 An image taken using slow shutter speed:

 

I believe shutter speed is very useful when thinking about photography as it determines just how good the quality of the image will be and also how clear and easy it is to see detail.