Photography. Very beginning. Main conceptions. Day 2

Shutter speed
Shutter speed – it is shutter's opening time, during which image of the real world hits the matrix or film. Usually it is very short time and it is measured in fractions of a second and marked in this way:

Designation --------------- Fractions of a second

2 ---------------------------1/2

4 ---------------------------1/4

8 ---------------------------1/8

15 --------------------------1/15

30 --------------------------1/30

60 --------------------------1/60

125 ------------------------1/125

250 ------------------------1/250

500 ------------------------1/500

1000-----------------------1/1000

2000-----------------------1/2000

Advice

It is well known from the experience, that using shutter speed more than 1/30 of a second, photographer – beginner can get blurry image, because of shaking camera in inexperienced hands. In this case you should apply general rule for setting up the shutter speed:

In order to avoid getting blurred image, shutter speed must approximately correspond to focal distance of the lens or be even shorter.

For instance, for lens with focal distance 200 mm shutter speed must be no longer than 1/200, must be set to values of 200; 250; 500 or shorter.

If you work with lens that has 20 mm (wide-angle), you may shoot, using shutter speed 1/15 – 1/30 of a second and shorter, i.e. with values 15; 30; 60; 125.

It' s advice only, and if you hold your camera firmly in hands and push button smoothly – probably, you could make photos of people with lens 200 mm in focal distance and shutter speed 1/15 of a second. But in this case your picture will be blurry anyway, and this is due to the movements of the objects of your photo, in this example – people.

Exposure
Exposure – it is quantity of light, hitting the film or matrix, during opening time of the shutter, i.e. during the set time of the shutter speed and aperture.

Correct exposure – it is very important matter! It defines quality of the negative or file. If you shoot in “AUTO” settings – exposure computed by camera itself, measuring illumination of an object and comparing it with speed(sensitivity) of the film or matrix.

With the correct exposure we have the best quality of the image and photosensitive material reproduces all details, both in shades and spotlit areas. In the cases of mistakes – underexposure and overexposure – these details can be lost forever.

For films – especially dangerous underexposures, when not enough light hits the film.

From other point of view, matrix is “afraid” of overexposures, when excess of light hits the matrix, and we see white spots instead of the image.

These days almost all cameras have option, named “AUTO EXPOSURE BRACKETING”. In this mode camera automatically changes the exposure within a set range to take three shots after you press the shutter button once.

In “MANUAL” mode photographer can change pairs of values: shutter speed – aperture, leaving exposure invariable. For example, setting pairs of values shown below, we will not change total image exposure:

Shutter speed -------------- Aperture

500----------------------------2,8

250----------------------------4

125----------------------------5,6

60------------------------------8

30------------------------------11

Correct selection of pair – shutter speed – aperture – not only technical, but also creative way! For example, we may set shutter speed of 500 and aperture 2,8; or shutter speed 30 and aperture 11 in the same conditions, while shooting. In both cases amount of light, hitting the film or matrix, and accordingly exposure, will be the same. But – pictures will be very different in nature!
For example:
- using shutter speed 1/500 and aperture f/2,8 we may get very sharp image of moving object, but background will be blurry.
- using shutter speed 1/30 and f/11 we will get completely blurred image with a very sharp background.

As you see, different combination of the aperture and shutter speed can bring different result with the same exposure.

In Day 3 we will talk about Light metering modes, camera's “AUTO” modes and Depth of field.

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