When it comes to shutter speed, it might seem elementary, but a 1/3-stop difference can dramatically alter the viewer’s response to an otherwise successful arrangement.
For example, when action is moving up and down in front of you or side to side, it is a safe bet to use a shutter speed of 1/500 sec. or faster. So what happens if, after reviewing several quick frames on the digital monitor, you decide the images are a wee bit dark? Since you are already using a wide-open aperture, you decrease your shutter speed by 1/3 of a stop, to 1/400 sec. You take a quick snap and check your exposure again, and you are much happier. It isn’t until you get home that you are confronted with an ugly truth: a 1/400 sec. exposure looks great in terms of light but is just slow enough to render most of the images with a subtle blur. Unlike grilling a steak, there is no such thing as a rare or medium-sharp image when freezing action is your goal. When it comes to image sharpness, anything short of “well done” must be thrown out!
Of course, deliberate blurring, whether via panning, zooming, or the motion of moving traffic or a waterfall while shooting at a very slow shutter speed, can be a highly effective way to deflect visual weight. A slow shutter speed, such as 1/2 sec., will substantially increase the visual weight of the subject in focus, such as a person standing perfectly still at the edge of a busy intersection surrounded by the blurred movement of cars and other pedestrians.
The Eiffel Tower may be the most photographed monument in all of Europe, if not the world. Paris is among the world’s most popular travel destinations, and for many, that trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so all the more reason to come back with the most compelling compositions possible. And what’s a surefire way to do just that? Pay attention to your shutter speed! In this case, the longer the better, and I am talking full seconds, not fractions of seconds. That also means the need for a tripod.
Compare the two photos shown here. The traffic flow in the first image (left) is cut short by a “fast” shutter speed of 1/2 sec. In photography, a half-second is a really long time, especially when compared to 1/8000 sec. Yet in this case, 1/2 sec. is actually too fast to create a flowing river of headlights and taillights. One needs no fewer than 8 seconds, as in the second photograph (right). You be the judge, but I would be very surprised if you were more fond of the first image. The lesson is a simple one: the amount of motion you record in a given scene is 100 percent dependent on the duration of time your shutter is allowed to remain open. The longer your shutter stays open, the greater the flow of motion. Trial and error are important parts of photographic excellence, so don’t be afraid to experiment with various combinations of apertures and shutter speeds. Over time, you will learn what shutter speeds to apply for the most effective compositions.
Left: Nikon D3X with Nikkor 70–300mm lens at 100mm, f/5.6 for 1/2 sec., ISO 100; Right: Nikon D3X with Nikkor 70–300mm lens at 100mm, f/22 for 8 seconds, ISO 100