Photography is a great, artistic hobby that rewards insight regarding what equipment you have, and what it can do.
Despite their similarities, many cameras work differently in subtle ways and you’ll have to keep an eye on everything to get the proper shots that you’re looking for.
More than this, there are several other things you need to keep in mind when trying to take the perfect photos.
So let’s say you’re new to photography and you come across the term ‘shutter speed.’ But what exactly is shutter speed, which shutter speed lets the most light in?
You have a look for some information but you can’t find what you’re looking for – sometimes writing and guides around photography can be so complicated!
If this sounds like you, then don’t worry! This article is here to help you! We’ve written an extensive guide that will help you to understand which shutter speed lets the most light in.
We’ll take you through all things to do with the concept, as well as the best shutter speeds for the kind of photograph you want to take! We’ve also included a short FAQ section to help define some of the more technical terms in this article.
What Is Shutter Speed?
Shutter speed refers to the period of time in which your camera’s shutter stays open. When taking photographs, the shutter is opened by pressing down on the button.
The shutter allows light into the lens, which records images onto film or digital memory. It does this by allowing certain parts of the image to record while others aren’t exposed to light.
The shutter speed controls the amount of time that the shutter remains open. There are two main types of shutter speed: slow and fast.
Slow shutter speeds mean that the shutter opens and closes slowly; fast shutter speeds mean that the shutter opens and closes quickly.
What Is Exposure?
Exposure is the amount of light allowed into the camera. Exposure is measured in f-stops (f/2.8, f/4, etc.), which are the ratio between the focal length of the lens and the aperture size.
For example, if you were using a 50mm lens at f/1.0, you’d only allow 1 stop of light into the camera. If you used a 100mm lens at f/2.0, you would allow 2 stops of light into the camera, and so on.
How Does Shutter Speed Affect Exposure?
There are three different types of exposures: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. These three factors affect each other, and together they determine the overall exposure of your photo.
Aperture is the size of the opening in front of the lens. The larger the number, the smaller the hole.
Aperture affects the depth of field, which is the range of focus from foreground to background. Depth of field is determined by the distance between the subject and the closest point where the image appears sharp.
Shutter speed determines the duration of time that the camera exposes the sensor to light. Longer shutter speeds expose less light, resulting in darker photos. Short shutter speeds expose more light, resulting in brighter photos.
ISO is the sensitivity of the sensor to light. Higher ISOs result in higher quality photos because the camera has more chance to capture details in low light situations. However, high ISOs also increase noise, which is a grainy appearance in the picture.
Why Do I Need To Know About Shutter Speed?
When it comes to photography, many different aspects need to be considered. One of these is shutter speed.
To get the right exposure, we need to consider both aperture and shutter speed. Together, they determine the amount of light entering the camera, which ultimately affects the brightness of our photos.
Here’s why you should know about shutter speed:
- It helps us control the exposure of our pictures.
- You can use shutter speed to make sure that your photos turn out bright enough.
- It helps us create motion blur.
- This effect makes objects appear blurred when moving too fast.
- It helps us freeze action.
- This technique freezes movement in photos.
What Shutter Speed Lets The Most Light In?
If you want to take photos with maximum detail, then you’ll want to choose a shutter speed that lets as much light through as possible. This will ensure that all of the important elements have enough light to show up clearly.
Slow shutter speeds let in less light than fast ones do. They’re great for capturing moments like fireworks or sunsets. But they don’t work well indoors, where there isn’t enough ambient light to illuminate everything properly.
Fast shutter speeds let in more light than slow ones do. They’re ideal for shooting landscapes and portraits, but they won’t give you very good results indoors.
Choosing the Right Shutter Speed
To figure out what shutter speed works best for your situation, think about the following questions:
How Long Does My Shutter Stay Open?
The length of time that your shutter stays open controls how much light enters your camera. If you want to photograph something that moves quickly, such as a firework or a waterfall, then you’ll need a faster shutter speed.
If you want to photograph an object that doesn’t move at all, such as a still landscape, then you’ll need to pick a slower shutter speed.
How Far Away Is My Subject?
Your shutter speed needs to match the distance between your subject and the camera. For example, if you’re photographing a person standing next to a tree, then you’ll need either a fast shutter speed (1/500 second) or a super wide-angle lens (18mm).
If you’re photographing someone who is farther away from you, such as a mountain range, then you’ll need longer shutter speeds (2 seconds or more).
What Kind Of Lighting Am I Using?
Your shutter speed depends on two things: the type of light source and its intensity.
For instance, if you’re taking photos inside during daylight hours, then you’ll probably need a fast shutter speed. Otherwise, you might not see any difference between your photos taken with a fast shutter speed versus those taken with a slow one.
However, if you’re taking night-time shots, then you’ll want a slow shutter speed so that you can capture the full glow of the lights.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell by our information above, there is quite a lot that goes into choosing the right shutter speed for what you are trying to accomplish. Learning the finer technical details of photography is difficult, and if you feel overwhelmed, don’t worry!
You will pick up little things as you continue to grow and flourish as a photographer, and there will always be something new to learn!
We hope this article has helped you to understand exposure in photography and hope that you feel more confident about shutter speed and exposure! Below is a short FAQ section to help answer any other questions you might have!
Frequently Asked Questions
Get your last-minute questions answered here!
What Are Manual Modes On A Camera?
A manual mode allows you to choose exactly when your shutter opens and closes. This gives you complete control over your images, which is why it’s often recommended for advanced photographers.
However, if you’re just starting, we recommend sticking to automatic modes because they make life easier.
Why Should I Use A Tripod?
Using a tripod helps keep your camera steady while you take pictures. It also prevents blurring caused by handshaking. A tripod is especially useful if you plan to shoot moving objects, such as fireworks or waterfalls.
What Is ISO Speed?
ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. It’s a measurement of sensitivity to light. It affects how sensitive your camera sensor is to light.
Low ISO settings mean that your camera sensor is less sensitive to light, which means that it takes longer to expose your image. High ISO settings let you get brighter images faster, but they may cause noise in your final photo.