Comments on: Simple guide to shutter speed – a basic tutorial for sharper pictures!

By: Chris Ridley

Chris Ridley — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:06:41 +0000

Thanks for the message, I’m glad it helped

By: Leah

Leah — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:42:21 +0000

hi chris, good job on writing these articles. i love photography and have an eye for it, and i am about to graduate from using point-and-shoots to a dslr. your blog has provided critical information in a very easy to understand way. thanks

By: Chris Ridley

Chris Ridley — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:56:07 +0000

The subject, OR yourself in motion!

By: Summer

Summer — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:37:53 +0000

Ohh, so it only affects the quality of an image when the subject is in motion. I get it! Thanks so much!

By: Chris Ridley

Chris Ridley — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:48:44 +0000

Hi, Thanks for dropping by!
Yes, 1/317 is the faster speed, and yes, 1/317th will let in much much less light than 1/30th of a second.
It’s not that faster shutter speeds ’sharpen’ pictures as such, faster shutter speeds just allow your camera to have less time to capture the movement in your subject, or your own shaking hand. IE if you are taking a photo of a static ornament sitting on your shelf, it makes no difference what shutter speed you have (Assuming it exposes correctly) at all of the subject is not moving.

If you want to take photo’s of people walking down the road whilst you are hand holding your camera, yes, then the faster you have your shutter speed the ’sharper’ everything is, I say sharper, but I mean less blur from movement…

Does that make sense?

By: Summer

Summer — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:37:29 +0000

Just to be sure, a shutter speed of.. let’s say 1/317 is faster, so less light is let in to the sensor of the camera, whereas a shutter speed of 1/30 is slower, so more light is let in, correct? And faster shutter speed sharpens pictures while slower shutter speed blurs pictures?
Haha, I’m new to photography, so I’m still learning. Your site has been very helpful so far!

By: Homiyar Sukhia

Homiyar Sukhia — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:42:04 +0000

Thanks for the photography tutorial. I want to know more!

By: Chris Ridley

Chris Ridley — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:52:14 +0000

Martin,
The best thing to do is to underexpose the image by one stop or so – which camera are you using? If you have a histogram preview on your camera be sure to check this, or use the blown out highlights preview as well, which shows the same info you need.
But basically, just underexpose if you find you are blowing the dress out, and then if you are shooting in raw you can pump up the levels and local exposure in post processing if needed.
Just watch the light, and becareful of direct flash, as bright white against black is not an easy combo. Get them into the shade so you can control the light a bit better..
Try laying a crumpled white T shirt on a black pair or trousers in your house and take lots of test pictures until you get it right with decreasing the exposure.. and make sure you’re not clipping the whites as you do it! Let me know how it goes!

By: Martin

Martin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:14:36 +0000

Hi Chris, I have a question for you, I have been struggling with taking pics of a brides wedding dress can you tell me the best way to avoid blown out highlights in the dress, as is really bothering me, thanks

Martin

By: Brandon Ford

Brandon Ford — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:09:44 +0000

Hey, im loving the blog so far. You have already taught me a lot with just these few articles.