How Shutter-Speed Works

When taking photos with a Bridge camera, a DSLR and some compact cameras, you have the option of adjusting the shutter-speed when taking a photo. This can be changed for two reasons.

1. Capturing movement in a blur.

2. Capturing movement as a sudden, instant snapshot.

After this shutter-speed card, I will add two photos. One with a very fast shutter-speed, capturing a moment, and the other with a very slow shutter-speed leaving trails. And a third which I will explain when I post it.

This photo was taken with a very fast shutter-speed. 

1/1000 - One thousandth of a second. It captures the drakes wings mid flap, the droplets of water from where the female is skimming through the water, and left a groove where the water hasn't filled back in yet.

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This photo was on a very slow shutter-speed. 

This was on a 25 second shutter-speed, so the shutter was open for a full twenty-five seconds. This allowed more movement to captured, and lets in more light, giving the appearance of streaks of light, These are vehicle tail lights on the left and vehicle headlights on the right.

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This next photo, this had a long shutter-speed.

This photo had a thirty second shutter-speed. It gives the impression of a flat sheen. The lights are almost exploding outwards where the camera captures and holds it. In the very background, you can see ships as they moved up the channel. 

So in short:

Very fast shutter-speed gets you an instant shot.

Very slow shutter-speed gets you an exposed shot.