Photo 101: Using shutter speed to control movement
Shutter speed, simply put, controls the speed at which the camera lens opens and closes. It works in conjunction with film speed (also known as ISO) and aperture (lens opening size) to properly expose an image. By using the shutter speed priority setting on your camera, you can control movement and capture your moving subject effectively. Let’s look at the various ways to do this.
freezing action
You’re at the Indy 500 watching your favorite racer approach the finish line and you want to capture the car, in full detail, and the look on the driver’s face, just before crossing the finish line! Capturing such a shot on camera is an example of freezing action. Compositions that show frozen action allow us to study a fleeting moment at our own pace, long after it has passed.
In order to freeze action with your camera, you need to set your shutter speed to be very fast. If your ISO is low, say 50 or 100, set your shutter speed to 1/500th of a second, 1/1000th of a second or faster. Then let your camera recommend the aperture; it will most likely force the background to be out of focus at a large aperture. If your ISO is high, say 800, then you’ll be able to set your shutter speed to 1/500th of a second without losing as much detail in the foreground and background (ie you’ll be able to use a smaller aperture to get the proper exposure). Shooting at such fast speeds allows you to get away with not using a tripod, since any camera shake you accidentally make won’t affect such a short exposure. So pick a sunny day and go for it!
implicit movement
The classic example of implied motion is those ethereal shots of rapids or waterfalls where the water appears silky as it flows over the rocks, while the plants on either side come into sharp focus as the water passes. Another example is traffic at dusk while the buildings at the intersection remain quiet and in sharp focus. The subject is blurry while the background is sharp: this is what movement implies.
The trick to capturing implied motion is to use a slow shutter speed. ½ second speeds should be plenty for shooting waterfalls or rapids, but be careful to lower your ISO, or shoot at night, and don’t forget your tripod.
Panorama
Her daughter rides her tricycle in a circle around her. He points her lens at her and turns in time with her as she circles him. Break! This is an example of panning, where we create anxious, rushed moments by bringing the moving subject into sharp focus while blurring the background. The best panoramic shots are taken when the subject is looking at you and the eyes are in focus.
To successfully capture a panoramic shot, keep these three rules in mind:
1) Make sure you move parallel to your subject.
2) Choose the appropriate shutter speed: between 1/60 of a second (for fast subjects), 1/30 of a second or even 1/15 of a second (for a slow child, for example)
3) DO NOT use a tripod, you must be free to move
Now you know the secrets to control movement in the movie. Get out there and try your hand at freeze motion, implicit motion, and panning!
