Freeze Action
Shutter speed is how long your camera keeps its shutter open to let light hit the sensor. A fast shutter (like 1/1000 of a second) opens and closes almost instantly, capturing a tiny slice of time — so anything moving is frozen mid-action, tack-sharp.
The faster your subject, the faster the shutter you need: a walking person might freeze at 1/250s, but a splash or a sprinting dog can need 1/1000s or more.
The catch: a fast shutter lets in very little light, so photos can come out dark. Fix that by shooting in good light, opening your aperture, or raising ISO — in Shutter Priority mode, Auto ISO usually handles this for you.
Shutter Priority mode (S or Tv) at 1/1000s to start, with Auto ISO on. Shoot in bright light. For very fast action — splashes, sports — push to 1/2000s or faster.
Your subject is sharp with no motion smear: you can see a frozen detail like a water droplet hanging in the air or a foot off the ground. Still slightly blurred? Use a faster shutter.
The assignment
Freeze a fast-moving subject so it's tack-sharp — a splash, a jump, a running pet, or sports.
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