How Do You Want the Water to Feel?
We know what shutter speed does technically. It controls how long we let the light into the camera. But photography isn’t really about numbers. It’s about choices. And this is where shutter speed gets fun.
So When Is the Water “Right”?
For me, it starts with a feel. I’m standing at the water’s edge. How does the morning feel? Is the sky soft, with pastel colors? Maybe I want to lean into that feeling. I might choose a slower shutter speed and let the water move while the shutter is open. The water becomes soft. Dreamy. Almost peaceful.
Now imagine something different. The colors are bright and vibrant. The ocean is angry. There are some great rocks along the shoreline, and the waves are crashing into them with some serious power. Maybe I want to show that energy. I might use a faster shutter speed to capture the impact of the wave.
Or maybe I want something completely different. Maybe I find a really nice low composition where the water is flowing across the sand. The bubbles in the foamy wave create this endless line leading through the photograph. Maybe that line leads me toward a sunset. Maybe it leads toward a pier in the distance.
Now the shutter speed becomes part of the story. I’m not just asking: “What shutter speed gives me a proper exposure?” I’m asking: “What do I want this water to look like?” That’s a very different question.
You Are Not Clicking the Button and Hoping
This is one of the biggest things I want you to understand. You aren’t clicking the button and hoping you get something nice. You are learning the craft. You are looking at the scene. You are deciding what you want. Then you are using the tools available to you to make that happen. That’s photography. And it’s not hard. I promise. We’re going to keep this as easy as possible.
You don’t need to memorize a list of magical shutter speeds. You need to learn to look. Look at the scene. Look at the movement. Look at the light. And ask yourself: More motion or less motion? That’s it.
A Quick Note About Camera Modes
As you read these lessons, I want you to actually have your camera with you. Seriously. Put it on the desk next to your mouse. Keep it in your lap while you sit on the couch and read this on your tablet. Play with it. Change the settings. Take photographs. Get comfortable holding the camera and making changes.
For the aperture lessons, I want you to put your camera in Aperture Priority mode. Depending on your camera, this may be called Av or A. I’m suggesting this because when I tell you to set your aperture to f/2.8, I want you to be able to simply turn a dial and set it to f/2.8. That’s all. Don’t worry about everything else yet. The camera will automatically select the shutter speed for you, and depending on your camera and settings, it may also select ISO.
For the shutter speed lessons, put your camera in Shutter Priority mode. Depending on your camera, this may be called Tv or S. Now when I tell you to set your shutter speed to 1/4 second, you can simply set 1/4 second. The camera will handle the other pieces.
These are sometimes called semi-automatic modes. I actually like that description. They sit right in the middle between fully automatic and manual. You pick the setting you want to control. The camera helps with the rest. For example, let’s say I want to photograph some flowers at f/2.8. I put the camera in Aperture Priority. I choose f/2.8. Done. The camera chooses a shutter speed that should give me a reasonable exposure. This isn’t about learning to use an automatic mode forever. It’s about making these lessons easier. We’re going to concentrate on one thing at a time.
Let’s Play With Water
Want to play? Do you have a kitchen sink? Do you have running water? Perfect. Stack some dishes in the sink. Use different sizes and heights. Build yourself some little waterfalls. Seriously. This is photography school.
Now start taking photographs. Change the shutter speed. Try a faster shutter. Then try a slower shutter. Look at the water. Watch what happens. As you leave the shutter open longer, the water continues moving while the photograph is being made. The longer it moves, the more motion blur you will see.
And here’s the important part: Don’t just look at whether the exposure is correct. Look at the water. What does it look like? What does it feel like? Does the water look frozen? Does it look energetic? Does it look soft? Does it look dreamy? At some point you will find a shutter speed where you look at the photograph and think: “Oh. That’s it.” That moment is important. Remember it.
Dragging the Shutter
I tend to play around in the slower shutter-speed ranges. You may hear photographers refer to this as dragging the shutter. You’re allowing the shutter to remain open longer and letting movement become part of the photograph. Used well, it’s amazing. And on those rare occasions when I get it just right… man. That’s a happy moment. Not because I found the secret shutter speed. There isn’t one. It’s because I saw something I wanted to create, made a choice, and the photograph came out the way I imagined it. Or maybe even better.
The Best Photography Advice I Ever Got
Many years ago, I told a photographer I respect very much that he took great photographs. He thanked me. He was very humble about it. Then he said something that has stuck with me for at least a dozen years. He said:
“I don’t take great photos. I share great photos.”
Think about that for a minute. What a quote. That quote gave me a gift that has shaped my entire approach to photography. It gave me freedom. Instead of standing behind the camera trying to use exact scientific precision to craft a masterpiece, I was free to choose a setting and play with it. I was free to choose a composition and play with it. I was free to explore. I was free to find. And somewhere along the way, I learned a couple of things. And I got a couple of nice images.
What If?
That eventually became a game I call: What if? What if I slow the shutter down? What if I speed it up? What if I get lower? What if I move closer? What if I wait for the next wave? What if I let the water become a leading line? What if I don’t know what I’m doing yet? That’s okay. Try it anyway. Because that’s how you learn.
You don’t need to know exactly what the photograph will look like before you press the button. You need to be willing to find out. Take the picture. Look at it. Ask yourself what you like. Ask yourself what you don’t like. Change something. Take another one. That’s photography.
Your Shutter Speed Exercise
Part One: The Sink. Build some waterfalls in your kitchen sink. Take photographs at several different shutter speeds. Pay particular attention to what happens as you make the shutter slower. Don’t worry about making a great photograph. You’re learning what the tool does.
Part Two: Find Some Motion. Find something moving. Water is perfect. A fountain works. A garden sprinkler works. A person walking works. Cars work. Even a dog running around the yard works. Try freezing the motion. Then try showing the motion. Look at the difference.
Part Three: Ask “What If?” Now stop trying to get the “right” photograph. Start playing. What if I make the shutter faster? Take a picture. What if I make it slower? Take another. Look. Change something. Take another. You’re not trying to memorize shutter speeds. You’re learning what shutter speed can do.
And eventually, when you stand at the ocean and look at the water, you won’t be asking: “What shutter speed should I use?” You’ll be asking: “How do I want this water to feel?” And that’s when you’re starting to become a photographer.
Learn the tool. Make the choice. Then go see what happens.
Beta Help me make this better. Tell me what you think →