Shutter Speed and Motion Photography Practice Assignment

Shutter Speed and Motion

This photography assignment focuses on mastering shutter speed to control motion in your images. By understanding how to manipulate shutter speed, you can either freeze fast-moving subjects or create artistic motion blur, enhancing the storytelling aspect of your photography.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the relationship between shutter speed and motion capture.
  • Learn to apply different shutter speeds to achieve desired effects in photography.
  • Gain proficiency in adjusting camera settings for optimal exposure while capturing movement.

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Before You Shoot

  • Select a location with dynamic movement, such as a busy street or a sports field.
  • Ensure your camera battery is fully charged and your memory card has sufficient space.
  • Familiarize yourself with your camera's shutter speed settings and modes.
  • Choose appropriate lenses based on your subject and desired perspective.
  • Consider the lighting conditions and time of day for optimal shutter speed settings.

The Assignment

Technical Focus

  • Use a fast shutter speed of 1/1000s at f/4, ISO 200 in shutter priority mode to freeze motion of a running athlete.
  • Set a slow shutter speed of 1/4s at f/8, ISO 100 in manual mode to capture light trails from moving vehicles.
  • Employ a shutter speed of 1/30s at f/5.6, ISO 800 in aperture priority mode to create motion blur while panning with a moving subject.
  • Adjust shutter speed to 1/60s at f/3.5, ISO 400 in program mode to capture a dancer in motion with some blur.
  • Utilize a shutter speed of 2s at f/11, ISO 100 in manual mode to create a smooth blur effect in waterfall photography.

Creative Focus

  • Experiment with intentional camera movement (ICM) by moving your camera during a long exposure to create abstract images.
  • Try zooming in or out while shooting at a slow shutter speed to create a dynamic sense of motion in your photographs.
  • Capture subjects in motion against a stationary background to emphasize speed and action.
  • Use silhouettes against a sunset backdrop with a fast shutter speed to create dramatic imagery.
  • Combine multiple exposures in post-processing to showcase different stages of motion in a single frame.

Assignment Tasks

  1. Photograph a cyclist racing past you at f/5.6, 1/1000s, ISO 200 in shutter priority mode to freeze their motion.
  2. Capture a waterfall with a slow shutter speed of f/8, 1/2s, ISO 100 in manual mode to create a silky water effect.
  3. Shoot a moving train at f/4, 1/500s, ISO 400 in aperture priority mode to freeze the train while blurring the background.
  4. Use a shutter speed of 1/30s at f/3.2, ISO 800 in manual mode to capture a street performer with motion blur.
  5. Photograph a busy street scene at f/11, 1/4s, ISO 100 in manual mode to show light trails from passing cars.
  6. Capture a soccer player kicking a ball at f/2.8, 1/2000s, ISO 400 in shutter priority mode to freeze the action.

💡 Stretch Tasks

  • Create an abstract image using ICM by moving the camera vertically during a 1s exposure at f/16, ISO 100.
  • Shoot a time-lapse sequence of a sunset with varying shutter speeds to capture the changing light and motion.

DO / DON'T

DO

  • ✓ Do practice with different shutter speeds to see how they affect motion.
  • ✓ Do use a tripod for long exposure shots to maintain stability.
  • ✓ Do experiment with different focal lengths to alter the perception of speed.
  • ✓ Do adjust your ISO settings to compensate for changing light conditions.
  • ✓ Do review your images and make adjustments based on the results.

DON'T

  • ✗ Don't use too slow of a shutter speed without a tripod, as it may result in unwanted blur.
  • ✗ Don't forget to set your white balance according to the lighting conditions.
  • ✗ Don't shoot in automatic mode if you want full control over your shutter speed.
  • ✗ Don't neglect to check your histogram to ensure proper exposure.
  • ✗ Don't be afraid to experiment; some of the best shots come from unexpected settings.

Reflection Questions

  • How did changing shutter speed affect the way motion was captured in your images?
  • What challenges did you face when trying to freeze or blur motion?
  • Which techniques did you find most effective for conveying movement?
  • How might you apply your understanding of shutter speed in future photography projects?

📚 Related Reading

Before you start, read these related blog posts to deepen your understanding:

For Foundation Plus members: Submit 3 images from this assignment for personalised feedback in your next Zoom session. You should upload to the shared Dropbox folder - link provided by Alan when you joined Foundation Plus.

Alan RangerTechnical Foundations