🏃 FREEZE OR BLUR MOTION
YOUR CAMERA KIT
Shutter speed is how long the camera collects light. Match speed to the motion you want to show.
- 📱 Phone or camera: sports mode or manual shutter if available
- 🏃 Moving subject: jumping friend, running pet, or spinning toy
- 🚰 Water source (optional): faucet drip or fountain for blur practice
- 📐 Tripod or brace (optional): steady support for slow shutter tries
- 👨👩👧 Adult helper: required for night light-trail experiments
Time: about 10 minutes · Freeze one action shot · Try one blur with steady support
PAGE 1 OF 5, TIME SLICE
SHUTTER SPEED
HOW LONG LIGHT ENTERS
Shutter speed is how long the shutter stays open during one photo. It is measured in fractions of a second like 1/500 or in whole seconds like 2s. A fast shutter such as 1/1000 of a second opens and closes in a blink. A slow shutter such as 1/4 second stays open longer. While the shutter is open, anything that moves leaves a trail across the sensor. That is why shutter speed is the main control for motion in photos. Choose speed based on whether you want to stop movement or show it flowing.
⏱️ TIME
Shutter speed sets how many milliseconds the sensor records light and movement.
OPEN!
FAST
⚡ 1/500s = quick snap
🐌 1/4s = longer window
🐌 1/4s = longer window
MOVE
🏃 Motion blurs while shutter open
🎯 Speed controls the look
🎯 Speed controls the look