When it comes to photography, you need to have a good understanding of the different camera settings. This will allow you to choose the correct settings needed in order to take the best possible pictures.
There is a lot to learn and research when it comes to camera settings. Two important aspects in particular are flash techniques and shutter speed. In order to take the best possible pictures, you need to have a good understanding of how these two aspects work in relation to each other.
In this article, we will be discussing the types of shutters speeds you will want to consider in relation to different types of flash techniques. As these flash techniques can vary, you will need to adjust the shutter speed to reflect this.
What Is Shutter Speed?
To gain a better understanding of the type of shutter speed, you will want to use flash techniques, you need to know what shutter speeds are. Shutter speeds essentially explain how quickly the shutter of the camera opens and closes.
The slower the shutter speed is, the more exposed the photo will be. The faster the shutter speed is, the quicker the photography will be taken. This is important to understand as you will need to change the shutter speed in accordance to the type of photographs you are planning to take.
If you are looking to shoot racing cars, a fast shutter speed is needed. If you want a long exposure of nature or a river flowing, the longer the shutter speed is, the more interesting the photograph will look.
Depending on the type of camera you own, there are a number of different shutter speeds to take into consideration. For example, ¼ and 1/000. The lower the number following the 1/, the slower the shutter speed will be. The higher the number, the quicker the speed will be.
On a camera, there will either be a manual or a digital shutter speed setting that can be adjusted and changed for different purposes. If you are shooting an image with a long exposure, you will need to ensure that you are holding that camera steady. Alternatively you can choose to use a tripod to help the image become stabilized.
What Are Flash Techniques?
When it comes to using flash in photography, there are many ways in which this can be incorporated. While flashes do not always have to be used, especially if you are using other forms of studio lighting, they are certainly useful to have. They will improve the appearance of the photographs, and help to control the lighting.
When it comes to using a flash, there are a number of different techniques to take into consideration. The two main techniques and flash types used are TTL and manual. With a manual flash, the photographer will have complete control over the lighting to ensure that the photograph is lit up correctly.
Unlike a manual flash, TTL is automatic to an extent, and the flash uses a short pre-flash. This measures the amount of light in a close vicinity, and the main flash is adjusted according to this. If you are looking for the easier option, the TTL flash is the best option to consider.
However, if you want more control over the lighting, the manual flash is the better option to consider.
The Shutter Speeds To Consider For Different Flash Techniques
As we have already touched upon, it is important to have a good understanding of the flash techniques and the best shutter speeds to consider for these techniques.
Studio Photography
The majority of flashes and cameras have an automatic setting that allows the both to sync up. They can vary between different models and makes of camera, and can sometimes be referred to as the studio sync.
The studio sync settings may vary, but typically they are set up in a way that they are useful for use with studio photography. The shutter speed will likely be around 1/60 which is fairly standard overall.
When you are shooting studio photography, you don’t want to use a shutter speed that is too slow, or too fast, and this is a good middle ground to consider. If you are learning photography and want to get to grips with flash techniques and shutter speeds, this is a useful option to consider.
Less Ambient Lighting
If you are looking to create less ambient lighting, then you will want to use a shutter speed that is significantly higher than 1/60 of a second. Instead, you may want to consider options up to 1/250.
This will allow you to capture the images faster, which in turn doesn’t allow the lighting to have much time to become ambient. In these instances, the lighting will tend to be dimmer, and more focused.
More Ambient Lighting
To create more ambient lighting, you will want to use a shutter speed that is slower, and will allow the lighting more time to enter the shot. This is why 1/60 to around 1/100 is a useful option to consider.
What Is A Good General Shutter Speed?
While 1/60 is a good option to consider for studio photography, in general it is useful to consider something that is slightly faster than this. This will allow you to take photos quickly, and it will create good lighting.
It also takes away the worry of needing to set up the correct lighting. Typically for many other types of photography, a shutter speed of around 1/200 is a great option to practise with.
Sports Photography
If you are carrying out sports or other types of fantasy photography, you will need to use a significantly faster flash and shutter speed. The shutter speeds ideally will need to be around 1/2000 or even 1/4000. This will allow you to capture the fast movements in more detail, without having to worry about the images being blurry.
Summary
To summarize, there is not a particular shutter speed that you have to use with photography. There are so many different options to consider, and it will all depend on the types of photographs you are shooting.
Even so, there are a number of different options that are more suitable to use in comparison to others. When you need to use a faster flash, you will want to use a faster shutter speed to match this.
If you want to create a more ambient shot, then a longer shutter speed and flash is the best option to consider. For the majority of studio shoots, a shutter speed of around 1/60 is the perfect option to consider. It is fast enough to not cause a blur, but it allows a good amount of light to be captured within the photograph.
If you are looking to try out the shutter speed and flash techniques for the first time, using a faster shutter speed will be the most successful option to consider. This is because it will be less likely to cause any blurring, and the photo will not be over exposed.
Ultimately, it is encouraged to experiment with different lighting techniques and shutter speeds to find the best option for your photography.
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