4) Project: Photographing movement. Exercise: Shutter speeds - page 20.

Deciding the subject.

For this exercise, I was going to do cars racing as I had plans to photograph a track day.  I was going to photograph them for both this exercise and the next, but then I realised how challenging this would be when trying to photograph a car moving at extremely high speed across the screen of my camera that was stationary.  I was prepared to give this a go however I wanted to gain the most from the exercise so it was more important for me to understand shutter speeds and the different results produced, so I opted for a more simple yet effective option. 

I wanted to use something that was of a consistent speed, so I could see the full effect of what changing the shutter speed would achieve.  I considered my son riding or running, I considered a swing in the park however none of these produced a consistent speed, so I opted to use a Mickey Mouse clock, which has his leg as a pendulum. 

Setting up.

I set the camera on a tripod and used the self timer (2 seconds) so each and every shot was consistent in all other ways, except shutter speed.

On shots IMG4108 to IMG4112, the only variable settings are shutter speed, aperture and ISO.  Otherwise the camera was set up as follows:

Camera setting: TV (Shutter priority)
Focal length: 176mm
35mm equivalent: 280mm
Flash: Not used
Metering: Matrix
White balance: Auto

Equipment used.

Camera: Canon 500D
Lens: Tamron 70-300
Flash: Not used
Tripod used.

Settings and results.

Here, I will only note the variable camera settings: Shutter speed, aperture and ISO.  All other camera settings remained the same as noted above.

IMG4108

Shutter speed: 1/100

Aperture: f/4.5
ISO: 1600

IMG4109

Shutter speed: 1/50

Aperture: f/5
ISO: 1000

IMG4110

Shutter speed: 1/25

Aperture: f/5
ISO: 500

IMG4111

Shutter speed: 1/15
Aperture: f/4.5
ISO: 320

IMG4112

Shutter speed: 1/10

Aperture: f/5
ISO: 200

As you can see from the above photos, there is a clear and significant difference from the movement of Mickey’s leg from the shot taken at the shutter speed of 1/100 as seen in image IMG 4108 to the shot taken at 1/10 as seen in image IMG4112.

I was satisfied with the results being produced, so at this time I opted to zoom out to show the clock in its entirety and used a greater selection of shutter speeds to see if there really was any clear visible difference at shutter speeds that were closer together.

As I zoomed out, I changed the camera set up as follows.  So in images IMG4115 to IMG4122 the only variables here now being shutter speed and ISO.

Camera setting: Shutter priority
Focal Length: 70mm
35mm Equivalent: 111mm
Aperture: f/4
Flash: Not used
Metering: Matrix
White balance: Auto

IMG4115

Shutter speed: 1/10
ISO: 200

IMG4116

Shutter speed: 1/15
ISO: 320

IMG4117

Shutter speed: 1/25
ISO: 500

IMG4118

Shutter speed: 1/50

ISO: 1000

IMG4119

Shutter speed: 1/80
ISO: 1600

IMG4120

Shutter speed: 1/100
ISO: 1600

IMG4122

Shutter speed: 1/125
ISO: 1600

Findings.

As you can see from the above shots, there are some very marked differences in the photos taken at the slower shutter speed, to those taken at a faster shutter speed.  Image IMG4108 is zoomed in using a shutter speed of 1/100.  You can see that this is a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the movement completely of Mickey’s leg.  In an example such as this, this makes for an ok shot however is that because I know Mickey’s leg moves?  If this were shown to a person who had no knowledge that Mickey’s leg was a pendulum, then I think it would be safe to assume that they really wouldn’t understand this shot at all.  Whereas if you look at image IMG4112, still zoomed in but using a much slower shutter speed of 1/10, you can clearly see that this shot was taken at a speed which has allowed for movement to be captured in the leg by it being blurred.  The viewer is much more likely to understand and appreciate the essence of a shot like this, understanding that the leg is indeed moving.

Moving on from the zoomed in shots, the shots showing the clock in its entirety, makes for an altogether different picture.  You could show someone the picture taken at the highest shutter speed, image IMG4122, where the movement is frozen, however this wouldn’t necessarily have the same confusion perhaps as the zoomed in shots and they would simply assume they are looking at a picture of a clock. 

Slowing down the shutter speed produces the same effect as achieved in the zoomed in shots. so shots taken at the slower shutter speed of 1/10 as seen in image IMG4115, you can clearly see the movement in the leg by the amount of blur that has been produced by lowering the shutter speed.

Conclusion.

By using a subject that has both a fixed and moving points, I think it has produced wonderfully clear results in demonstrating just what effect adjusting the shutter speed has to a picture and how, by slowing the shutter speed, clearly emphasises movement and portrays that to the viewer of the image.  Now that doesn’t mean to say that in all shots that have movement you would wish to use a slower shutter speed, allowing the movement to show, but I think my choice of subject has shown when perhaps it is more appropriate to use a slower shutter speed to show something that may not be apparent.

I also think the second set of images show that even a small adjustment in shutter speed can make a significant difference in showing the movement, as each time the shutter speed has been adjusted you can see the amount of blur changing.

It is with all of the above in mind, that on this occasion, I would probably say this about my preference: I like the faster shutter speed, freezing the shot, as this allows greater control over a moving image to enable you to freeze the action to make the most of your subject, however, I do prefer here the slower shutter speed shots showing the movement by blurring Mickey’s leg, like image IMG4116,  as this allows for the portrayal that Mickey’s leg is indeed a pendulum on the clock and is forever swinging!