How Shutter Speed Works

There are two important things to remember about shutter speed. First, at slow shutter speeds — when the shutter stays open for a longer time — objects in motion will appear blurry in the photograph (and everything will get blurry if the camera itself isn't held still).

This motion blur occurs because the same object is recorded in multiple places on the film or sensor as the object moves across the frame during the time that the shutter is open. Second, the longer the shutter is open, the more light reaches the film/sensor, resulting in a brighter overall image.

Shutter speeds are indicated by fractions of a second, with 1/1000 being the fastest shutter speed that you'll find on a typical consumer point-and-shoot camera. Some high-end SLR cameras can shoot as fast as 1/8000 or even 1/16000 of a second.

Shutter speeds are standardized so that changing the speed will give you either one half or twice as much light (depending on which way you changed it). For example, changing from 1/30 to 1/60 results in half as much light hitting the sensor.

Shutter priority mode, a key feature in modern cameras, empowers photographers to directly control the shutter speed, thereby dictating how motion is captured in their images. By selecting a faster shutter speed, one can freeze moments in absolute clarity, perfect for capturing the fleeting grace of a sprinter or the brief ascent of a bird.

Conversely, a slower shutter speed allows for the artistic blurring of motion, ideal for rendering the vibrant trails of urban lights at night. In this auto mode, labeled as "S" or "Tv" on most cameras, the camera auto-adjusts other settings like aperture, ensuring the image remains well-exposed despite changes in motion capture. A slow shutter speed photo exhibits creative freedom over motion effects, while the camera maintains the technical balance for perfect exposure.

To change your shutter settings, you turn a dial or switch on an older camera. Today's digital cameras usually feature the shutter speed adjustment via an on-screen menu.

Oh, and that shutter sound we mentioned earlier? If you have a small digital camera, there's a good chance you won't hear the shutter's click at all. You might be hearing a fake electronic shutter sound, because pocket-sized digital cameras use electronic shutters. Instead of a physical shutter opening and closing mechanically, the sensor simply turns itself on and off for the appropriate length of time. Why don't all cameras use this method? The electronics involved force a compromise in image quality, which is why higher-end digital cameras still use mechanical shutters.

What shutter speed is best for which kind of photo? And what special effects can you create by manipulating shutter speed? We'll explain that next.

If you're looking to shoot crisp, clear photos, you'll usually want to use the fastest shutter speed possible. The primary limitation of shutter speed is available light. Since a fast shutter speed doesn't let as much light through, it can lead to overly dark photos if lighting conditions are dim to begin with.

You can compensate by opening up the aperture (the opening that allows light into the camera) and using a higher ISO setting (measuring the film's sensitivity to light), but these changes also have their own tradeoffs. If you're trying to capture fast-moving subjects, like athletes or pets, faster shutter speeds are vital. If the scene is too dark, your only option might be to employ some flash photography tips.

If you're shooting a stationary subject in low light conditions, you can use a slower shutter speed. This can allow you to capture a scene with shadows and subtle lighting that might be lost if you used a flash. Make sure to use a tripod or activate your camera's stabilization feature, if it has one. If your shutter speed is anything slower than 1/60, it will be almost impossible to hold the camera still and avoid "camera shake".

If you're looking to shoot some special effects, a slow shutter speed can help you out. Slow down your shutter speeds just a little, and those crisp action shots show dynamic movement as some things become slightly blurred. Slow it down a little more, but this time pan the camera along with the movement of one object. Now that object will be crisp while the background is displayed as a motion blur. A photo of a waterfall with the slowest shutter speed, using a tripod, will show a luminous sheet of water instead of clear individual splashes.

A more advanced way to use slow shutter speeds is to use an external flash to illuminate one particular object. Imagine that you're photographing four couples dancing in a ballroom, and you want one couple to appear crisp while the others remain blurred in the background. Set the camera on a tripod for a slow shutter speed, then set off a brief external flash. The flash will illuminate the "featured" couple, so a crisp image of them will be captured during that one instant. The other couples, who were positioned so the flash didn't illuminate them, will remain blurred by their motion.

Some photographers specialize in light painting, in which the subject moves a brightly colored object through a dimly lit scene, "painting" motion blurs of light in various parts of the image.

As in all things in photography, the key to finding the right shutter speed for your situation is experience, and you gain experience through experimentation. Try different shutter speed/aperture/ISO combinations until you find one that works, and play around with special effects to see what happens.

This article was updated in conjunction with AI technology, then fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.