“The best way to predict the future is to create it” Abraham Lincoln
Capturing Light and Time: A Deeper Dive into Shutter Speed and ISO
Photography is an art, a delicate blend of science and creativity. Each image captured tells a story, shaped by the choices a photographer makes. We have choices when setting for a photograph. We will focus on two controls in this post. One is shutter speed which is how fast the shutter opens and closes. The second one is how fast the film or the electronic camera captures light (ISO). They are more than settings on a camera. They are instruments that fine-tune the narrative of every frame. These two are the second and third legs of the tripod for a good photograph exposure. Last blog, we spoke about depth of field (DoF) as the first leg. I hope you will hava a more nuanced understanding of their roles in the photographic process.
The upper right photo required a shallow depth of field to avoid too much distraction of the indented glass. That also allowed the colors in the back to become swatches and rainbows. In order to be successful, I needed to manipulate ISO and shutter speeds to get the right exposure and crisp image lines.
“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.” Niels Bohr
Shutter Speed – Moments Frozen or Elongated:
A camera’s shutter speed allows light in and exposes the sensor or film to light. It is like the camera’s heart beat. Fast shutter speeds (e.g., 1/1000 sec) are capturing more than fast-moving subjects. They crystallize a split-second, and catch a fleeting instance. Fast shutter speeds are a tool for precision. For instance capturing the droplets from a splash or the exact moment a dancer leaps.
They need faster ISO speeds, more light or a wider f stop to get a good exposure. Slow shutter speeds (e.g., 1 sec or longer) are the paintbrushes of photography and can add a touch of surrealism. Slow shutter speeds capture the essence of movement. Think about the silky flow of rivers, the trail of stars across the night sky, or the bustling motion of a city street. Otherworldly Winter River is inks moving across plate glass at a steady pace. I needed to have the shutter open and closely slow enough to capture blurred patterns in the central colors, but fast enough to get the rest of the image in sharp focus. To accomplish this, I needed a moderate f-stop to reduce light entering the lens. This in turn allowed me to slow the shutter speed and adjust my ISO as needed. All three work in concert.
Slower and slower shutter will introduce blur as the camera or the object move. An entire genre of photography adds this purposeful blur and motion to the image – ICM. Intentional camera movement ranges from subtle movements, radical twists, linear pans. Taken to the extreme, the actual object or scene can become unrecognizable. The photograph becomes a beautiful swatch of colors and patterns.
ISO: Fine-Tuning Light Sensitivity:
Think of ISO as the camera’s eye. It adjusts to the ambient light, like our pupils expands or contracts. Low ISO (e.g., ISO 100 or 200) are slow to collect light. In doing so, it preserves rich details and textures. Every leaf on a tree or the fine lines on an elderly person’s face — a low ISO ensures clarity. Slow ISO speed needs more light or a slower shutter speed to get a good exposure. High ISO (e.g., ISO 3200 or higher) aid in dim scenarios. High ISO settings can transform a scene. While it introduces grain, this can be stylistic, adding a raw, emotive quality. Think of the rough, nostalgic charm of old film photos; sometimes, the grain tells a story of its own. There is a wide range of ISO speeds in the middle between these two options.
The Artistic Interplay of Shutter Speed and ISO:
Shutter speed and ISO complement each other. This is akin to a musician knowing more then when to strike a chord. They need to know which chord, when to strum and how hard to strike the strings. Consider a dim scenes where you want to freeze the motion (like a dancer on a low light stage). Increasing ISO allows faster shutter speeds to capture the swift movement without blur. You can also freeze part of a moving object while allowing faster moving elements to blur. This can create a very dramatic and compelling image. Motion blur effect on a sunny day (imagine children playing in the sun) can be challenging. A neutral density filter can help in this circumstance. These filters reduce the amount of light entering the camera lens. You can then lower the ISO and shutter speed to get the desired blur without overexposing the image.
Beyond Technicalities: Crafting Stories with Shutter Speed and ISO:
For my photography I am looking for a shutter Speed over 1/30 of a second to get sharp images. When I am working in such a small space I tend to use wider f-stops and two to four studio lights. This brings enough wattage onto the object and allows me to see the desired image. It is even more important if the elements are moving.
With these two controls, you are setting the rhythm of the image. By adjusting light sensitivity, you are also molding the mood of the picture. A high-ISO shot of a cityscape can evoke the raw energy of urban life with a gritty grainy quality. While a clean, low-ISO landscape shot can reflect nature’s tranquility.
“The only way to predict the future is to have the power to shape the future” Eric Hoffer
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Cheers,
Jim