Skill Development

5.11.10 - Shutter Speed

Shutter Speed represents the amount of time that the shutter is open on a still camera, it is also measured in seconds and determines how much light gets through the lens and can have various effects on different images. The term ‘bulb’ is used when the shutters opens.

There are two different types of Shutter Speeds; slow and fast. A slow shutter speed is used when a producer wants to suggest a sense of movement in a still image; this is also used best in a low light scenario. When selecting a slow shutter speed it means that the camera lens will be open for longer, therefore allowing the camera to capture more movement, this allows a producer to show an element of blurriness which would be more realistic, for example if a train was speeding down the track then it would be blurry as you take a picture of it, so by using a slow shutter speed it allows more tie for the camera to gather up the movement and allowing it to be a more realistic picture.

Whereas, a fast shutter speed is used when a producer wants to make a image unrealistic, for example someone jumping up in the air; this speed would allow the camera to capture that person in the air with their feet not on the ground, almost as if it is freezing the image.

Slow -

This is a picture that I took whilst using a slow Shutter Speed (‘’30). I think this picture has worked quite well for my first attempt of using shutter speeds because the background is blurred so it makes the light stand out more, if I was to use this image in an advert then I could perhaps make it so it looked like someone had a sparkler and was twirling it around, this would’ve worked well at the time because it was bonfire night when I took this, however, to make it look more effective I could have tried to make the background darker to represent the lights more and make them stand out to a better quality.

Fast -

I took this picture by using a fast Shutter Speed (1/80). I also think that for a first attempt this picture is of an ok standard, this allowed me to capture Courtney whilst she was in the air, giving it an ‘unrealistic’ feelings, if I was to use this in an advert then I could maybes add some skipping ropes into her hands, this would look like she was skipping, however, near her hands are a bit blurry which means that I could have used a different speed to get a better result.

These skills will benefit me when it comes to my Unit 3 because it will give me a better wide range of skills to use in my final production. If I continue to learn more skills and keep practising them then it would make my final piece the best of my ability.