Playing with shutter speed
The length of the exposure of the sensor to light will give a variation of images, writes Salliza Salleh
SHUTTER speed setting contributes to a balanced exposure triangle, just like aperture and ISO settings. The three variables of exposure triangle are interrelated and contribute to the overall appearance of an image.
Shutter speed is the length of time your camera window or shutter opens to allow light to the sensor.
Variance in shutter speed creates different effects. Long exposure creates a blurry and ghostly effect for moving subjects, such as flowing water, clouds and rain, while fast exposure freezes split second movement.
The effect adds the illusion of motion and time to the photograph.
1. BLUR: Long or slow shutter exposes more light to the camera sensor, therefore creating blurry or ghosty effects on any moving subject.
Waterfalls, waves, clouds and winds, etc are often the favourite choice for landscapers.
Shutter speed set at 1/30s and below create different ranges of dreamy effect. Street photographers use long exposures on moving people or any moving subject to create an illusion of motion.
In this photo, I spotted an interesting mural in one of the streets in Jogjakarta and set my shutter speed at 1/40s, just enough hint to create that ghostly effect of the riders. 2. FREEZE: Fast shutter allows less light to reach the camera sensor, freezing any fast movement.
At the shutter speed at 1/500s and above, you can capture any fast-moving subject that is too quick to be seen with your own eyes.
This technique captures the subject at that exact fleeting moment of time.
In this picture of a man with his horse, my shutter speed was at 1/1250s and the camera was set at burst mode.
I positioned myself in front of the morning sun and as the horseman entered my frame, I pressed the shutter button. His moment of action and the splashing water around him are frozen, creating a dynamic moment or an illusion of his fast-moving intenseness in my image.
3. FILTERS: Filters help to extend exposure time of our camera. Big Stopper and Little Stopper ND filter, for example, create that fluffy effect on moving subject like clouds, waterfalls, rivers, waves or people.
The filters block the light accordingly at 10 stops and six stops, which is another method to add the impression of motion and time into a picture.
I captured this dreamy waterfall of Sungai Panching, Kuantan, with a Big Stopper filter fixed in front of my lens and my shutter speed was at one second during mid-day.
4. ABSTRACT: Experiment long exposure at night with various artistic light tricks including light painting, light trails, star trails, milky way or burning steel wool. I tried using long exposures to capture moving lights from a spinning and burning steel wool.
This picture was captured at 4.30am at a very dark lake garden. I put my camera on a tripod, set my shutter speed at 1/10s as my friend kept spinning the burning wool. My camera was set on burst mode. The sparks, captured using long exposure technique, created lines of fire and its reflection on the water surface turned this image into an unusual picture.
5. TIMING: The ability to recognise the right opportunity or timing to apply shutter speed technique is important. In a second, your mind needs to decide on how your subject reacts, frame your composition, set the ideal exposure and press your shutter button.
In this photo of a red scooter rider in Hanoi, I set my shutter speed at 1/60s, quickly framed my picture and moved my camera along with the subject to create a panning effect, another method to capture a moving subject.
The clear red subject against a blurry background gives the feeling of movement and speed to my photograph.