Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is how long your camera holds its eye open — a thousandth of a second, or a slow ten-count — and it's the most dramatic tool you've got. Snap it fast and you freeze a splash mid-air; drag it slow and moving water turns to silk, headlights stretch into rivers of light. It's the difference between stopping time and letting it smear across the frame — pure cause-and-effect, so you'll see exactly what each speed does. Five shoots, from freeze to long exposure, and the most fun you'll have with a single dial.
5 lessons, easy to ambitious — free to read, free to shoot.
- 1Freeze ActionFreeze a fast-moving subject so it's tack-sharp — a splash, a jump, a running pet, or sports.
- 2Motion BlurUse a slow shutter to turn movement into smooth, silky blur — a waterfall, stream, or fountain.
- 3Light TrailsTurn moving lights into glowing streaks with a long night exposure — car headlights and taillights on a road.
- 4PanningTrack a moving subject as you shoot so it stays sharp while the background blurs into streaks of speed — a passing cyclist, car, or runner.
- 5Long ExposureUse an extended exposure for dramatic time-smoothing — star trails, moving clouds, or a crowd dissolving into ghosts.
Shoot this tree, assignment by assignment.
A free account turns reading into doing — place your proof shots, earn the XP, and master Shutter Speed for the Shutter Speed Ninja badge.