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Shutter Speed
Tom Illsley avatar
Written by Tom Illsley
Updated over 3 years ago

As modern technology and sensor development improves, higher ISO’s can be used with less of a detrimental effect on the image.

Shutter Speed is how fast the shutter opens and closes in a camera or lens, controlling how long light is exposed onto a sensor for. The main deciding factor for shutter speed should be how much your subject is moving and at what speed (and how well lit the subject is). A faster shutter speed (eg. 1/2000) would be used for sports or wildlife as it will freeze the subject and everything else in the frame. A slower shutter speed (eg. 1/15) would be used to create motion blur and will allow for some movement in the image (think a waterfall with smooth cascading water).

Shutter Speed is one of the three elements in the Exposure Triangle, along with Aperture and ISO.

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