creative controls
Slow shutter speeds
When the shutter speed is slowed down movement is no longer frozen but records as a streak
across the image. This is called ‘movement blur’. Movement blur can be created with relatively slow
moving subject matter. Speeds of 1/30, 1/15, 1/8 and 1/4 second can be used to create blur with
a standard lens. If the camera is on a tripod the background will be sharp and the moving subject
appear blurred. If the camera is panned successfully with the moving subject the background will
provide most of the blur in the form of a streaking effect in the direction of the pan.
Camera shake
Movement blur may also be picked up from camera movement as a result of small vibrations
transmitted to the camera from the photographer’s hands. This is called ‘camera shake’. To avoid
camera shake a shutter speed roughly equal to the focal length of the lens is usually recommended,
e.g. 1/30 second at 28mm, 1/60 second at 50mm and 1/125 at 135mm. Many cameras give an
audible or visible signal when shutter speeds likely to give camera shake are being used. Using
a camera with an image stabilizer or by carefully bracing the camera slower speeds than those
recommended can be used with great success. When using slow shutter speeds the photographer
can rest elbows on a nearby solid surface, breathe gently and release the shutter with a gentle
squeeze rather than a stabbing action to ensure a shake-free image.
Mark Galer