Master Motion with Shutter Speed

Freeze action or create dramatic blur by controlling how long your camera’s shutter stays open.

Motion blur example
Long exposure creates motion blur

Quick facts

Fast shutter

1/1000 sec freezes fast action like sports or wildlife.

Slow shutter

1/10 sec or longer creates motion blur and light trails.

Exposure

Slower shutter = more light. Faster shutter = less light. Balance with aperture or ISO.

Shutter Speed Simulator

Drag the slider to change shutter speed. The image simulates blur and exposure.

Simulated motion photo
Shutter speed: 1/125s
1s 1/15s 1/125s 1/500s 1/1000s

Tip: Use fast shutter to freeze motion, or slow shutter for artistic blur.

Learn more

Common shutter speeds

  • 1/1000s+ — sports, wildlife
  • 1/125 - 1/250s — portraits, everyday
  • 1/30s - 1s — creative blur, night

Practice ideas

  1. Photograph running water at 1/1000s and 1s — compare results.
  2. Try light trails with 10–20s exposures at night.
  3. Experiment with panning: track a moving subject at 1/30s.