Shutter Speed

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed is a measurement of the time the shutter is open, shown in seconds or fractions of a second: 1 s, 1/2 s, 1/4 s … 1/250 s, 1/ 500 s, etc. The faster the shutter speed, the shorter the time the image sensor is exposed to light; the slower the shutter speed, the longer the time the image sensor is exposed to light.

If you are photographing a subject that is in motion, you will get different effects at different shutter speeds. Fast shutter speeds will “freeze” motion, while slow shutter speeds introduce blur from two sources: camera movement (camera shake) and subject movement 

In other words, the faster the shutter speed the easier it is to photograph the subject without blur and “freeze” motion and the smaller the effects of camera shake. In contrast, slower shutter speeds are suited to suggesting the motion, such as that of flowing water or other moving subjects. Changing the shutter speed gives you control over whether to “freeze” or suggest motion.


In the photograph taken at a slow shutter speed (1 sec), the Traffic is blurred. This is due to the fact that the traffic was  moving while the shutter was open.

Slow Shutter Speed ( Focal length 32mm, Exposure f/4.8, 1s, ISO 100, Gear : Nikon D3100, Manual, WB Auto )

This picture is a result of a Long Exposure of 30 seconds, which gave it some brilliant back colors and the sky lighted by the Diwali fireworks ( Focal Length 24mm , Gear Nikon D3100, Exposure : f/10 , 30s , ISO 200 , Manual , WB Auto ) 

Choosing a shutter speed one step faster than the current shutter speed (by, for example, changing shutter speed from 1/60 s to 1/125 s) is referred to as “increasing shutter speed by one step” and halves the amount of time the shutter is open. Choosing a shutter speed one step slower than the current shutter speed (for example, by changing shutter speed from 1/125 s to 1/60 s) is referred to as “slowing shutter speed by one step” and doubles the amount of time the shutter is open.

* Bulb, is a shutter speed setting on an adjustable camera that allows for long exposure times under the direct control of the photographer. With this setting, the shutter simply stays open as long as the shutter release button remains depressed


If you are using a Nikon digital SLR camera, shutter speed changes in 1/3 steps; some models also support increments of 1 step and 1/2 step.

Info display of Shutter Speed in Nikon Models

Speeds faster than one second are shown as fractions (e.g.: …1/125, 1/160, 1/200, 1/250…). Some cameras may omit the numerator so that “1/125” becomes “125,” “1/250” becomes “250,” etc. Speeds slower than one second are shown by a double prime symbol following the value. 

An Apricot splashing into a glass container, Here the Motion is freezed by a Fast shutter speed which gave some intresting shapes of the water drops shot with Nikon D3100  18-55 VR Lens , shutter speed 1/200 seconds. (Exposure : 55mm , 1/200, f/22, ISO 100, Flash used)