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Did you know that using the shutter speed priority mode can help you master the art of capturing motion in your photographs?
In this article, I’ll explain this useful shooting mode, break down when it can be useful, and give you a step-by-step guide on how to use it in different situations.
Lastly, I’ll tell you how it’s different from other shooting modes and answer some FAQs.
Are you ready? Let’s get started!
What is Shutter Speed Priority Mode?
Graphic by: Althepal Derivative work:Mehdi, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Shutter speed priority is one of the semi-automatic modes you can find on most digital cameras.
As you probably know, when taking a photograph, you need to consider the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to achieve a proper exposure. (This is also known as the exposure triangle.)
In Auto or Program mode, the camera chooses all three values. This way, you might get a photograph with the right exposure, but you have no control over the final result.
In Manual mode, you have full control – but it’s more difficult to master since you need to consider all three factors. This may result in you missing your chance to take a particular picture.
Cameras offer a compromise solution: You control just one exposure setting, and the camera takes care of the rest.
This is where shutter speed mode comes in. You can use this mode to decide whether to use a slow or a fast shutter speed to blur or freeze just the moving elements in the picture.
So, you just need to set the shutter speed required. Then, as soon as you press the shutter button, the camera will measure the light and choose the ideal aperture and ISO.
What Is Shutter Speed?
Shutter speed is one of the three settings you need to adjust when taking a photograph.
The shutter is a piece of the camera that protects the camera sensor when it’s closed. Once the shutter is open, light hits the sensor to create a photograph.
The shutter speed controls the amount of time you expose the sensor to light.
The shutter speed helps you achieve the correct exposure. It also controls how moving subjects are captured.
A fast shutter speed freezes a moving subject – it also allows you to prevent camera shake. Instead, a slower shutter speed allows motion blur.
Understanding shutter speed, aperture, and ISO is key to improving your photography. That’s why I recommend you check out this article about shutter speed for more details and tips.
When to Use Shutter Speed Priority Mode
Credit: Yuraforrat
Shutter mode gives you more control than Auto mode, yet it allows you to concentrate on the moving subjects without worrying about exposure.
This may be useful in a number of situations.
First, when shooting handheld in low-light conditions, you may want to control the shutter speed so it doesn’t drop too much. This will avoid camera shake.
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When the shutter speed is too slow, you might get blurry photos due to camera movement. This is particularly problematic with a telephoto zoom lens or telephotos in general, especially if they don’t have optical image stabilization.
This is because the ideal shutter speed for capturing sharp shots needs to be faster than the focal length of your lens.
So, you need a shutter speed faster than 1/35 sec. when shooting with a 35mm lens, but as the focal length increases, you’ll need a faster shutter speed.
Another example of when you need to master shutter speed is when you photograph subjects in motion. Using different shutter speeds with a subject that moves at the same speed would result in completely different photos.
Fast shutter speeds allow you to freeze a subject in motion and capture it tack sharp regardless of its speed. You can learn more about this here.
On the other hand, you might want to create motion blur. This creative decision allows you to convey the sense of a moving subject speeding past, leaving a trail behind.
To achieve this, you need a long shutter speed.
It’s important to say that you should only use this mode if you don’t need to control the depth of field. This is because you’re giving the camera control over the aperture.
How to Set Shutter Priority Mode on Your Camera
The shutter priority mode is on the mode dial of most DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. However, some point-and-shoot or compact cameras may have it inside a digital menu.
Most camera manufacturers use the letter S to indicate this mode. However, Canon uses TV, which is the abbreviation for time value.
How to Use Shutter Priority Mode When Taking Action Shots
This is how you can use this mode to easily capture action shots.
Credit: Robo Michalec
Step 1
Set your camera to shutter priority mode. Most cameras note this mode with an S on the mode dial. However, Canon cameras have the shutter speed mode marked as TV.
Step 2
Set the maximum limit you want on the camera’s auto ISO setting. This may be different for each camera as some handle high ISO values better than others.
It’s also a personal matter. While some photographers might find the level of noise created by a 3200 ISO acceptable, others may find it excessive. So, choose the value that you prefer.
Step 3
Then, set the shutter speed. This is also up to you since shutter priority is all about you taking full control over the shutter speed.
You’ll want to set faster shutter speeds to freeze action. However, the right value depends on how fast the subject is moving.
A fast shutter speed of 1/500 sec might be enough if you’re photographing skateboarders, but you’ll need a faster shutter speed for subjects with a motor. For example, use at least 1/1000 for motorcycle racing shots.
Having said this, not all action shots are about freezing the action. A strategic use of motion blur is a great way to convey speed – for example, panning while you’re shooting a motorcycle race.
In this case, you’ll need a slow enough shutter speed to follow the motorcycle for a bit.
Here’s a guide on how to change the shutter speed on different camera brands if you need it.
Step 4
Set the focus mode to autofocus and select AI Servo (Canon) or Continuous Focus (Nikon and other manufacturers).
If your camera has a tracking mode, make sure you enable it. Now, the camera will be able to keep the moving subject in focus even at fast shutter speeds.
How to Take Long Exposures Using Shutter Priority Mode
In landscape photography, you often need to use long shutter speeds. That said, this is not the only subject you may want to capture this way.
Some portrait photographers use slow shutter speeds – for example, to capture the trail of a moving dancer.
In any case, follow these steps to use shutter priority mode for your long-exposure photography.
Credit: Souvenirpixels
Step 1
The first thing you need to do to take long exposure photographs is to mount the camera on a tripod. This way, you won’t get blurry photos due to camera shake.
Step 2
Set the camera to shutter priority mode. Depending on the brand and model of your camera, this may be on one of the dials or inside a digital menu.
Step 3
Next, go to the auto ISO setting and make sure the minimum value is set to the lowest ISO your camera allows.
This is because you’ll be using a very slow shutter speed. So, you don’t want the camera sensor to be very sensitive to light.
Step 4
Then, set the shutter speed. A long exposure photograph requires a slow shutter speed.
However, this may be anything from a relatively slow shutter speed up to the minimum shutter speed. Remember that in most cameras, anything slower than 30 seconds is done in Bulb mode.
The adequate value will depend on how fast the subject is moving and how much blur you want.
For example, if you want to keep texture in the water, you can use something between one and three seconds. However, to achieve silky smooth water, you need shutter speeds slower than five seconds.
Step 5 (optional)
Credit: Chris Lynch
Sometimes there’s too much light, and even with the narrower aperture setting and the lowest ISO, the photograph is overexposed.
To solve this problem without having to compromise on your slow shutter speeds, you can use ND filters.
Shutter Priority Mode vs Aperture Priority Mode
There are two main factors that determine how much light reaches the camera sensor: aperture and shutter speed.
The aperture is the lens opening. The wider the aperture, the more light it lets through, and vice versa.
The shutter speed then regulates how long the camera’s shutter stays open, allowing the light that passes through the lens to hit the sensor.
The aperture priority mode lets you decide which aperture to use, and the camera compensates for any changes by choosing the appropriate shutter speed and ISO.
Instead, shutter priority mode allows you to choose the desired shutter speed and the camera will find the ideal aperture and ISO to match.
Shutter Priority Mode vs Manual Mode
Manual mode gives you complete control over your camera settings. In other words, if you change one of the exposure settings, the camera will not change any of the others to compensate for it.
Instead, by using shutter priority, you can change the shutter speed, and the camera will compensate by adjusting the aperture or the ISO.
FAQs About Shutter Speed Priority Mode
What types of photos work best in Shutter Priority mode?
Shutter priority mode works best with action shots or photographs with a moving subject. It’s also a good option when shooting in low-light conditions without a tripod.
Is shutter speed priority mode good for street photography?
Yes. Street photography often includes moving vehicles and people walking – this is the type of situation where you’d want to control the shutter speed.
Should I use shutter priority mode when shooting wildlife?
Most wildlife photographers don’t recommend shutter priority mode. For this type of photography, the depth of field is the most important. So, the best mode for wildlife photography is aperture priority.
How do I use exposure compensation when shooting in shutter priority mode?
Exposure compensation will help you achieve a different exposure than the one the camera decided was best.
Using shutter priority mode, you can decide how to capture motion. However, the final exposure is up to the camera.
You can’t make a photo lighter or darker by adjusting the shutter speed because the camera will compensate for it. So, you need to use the exposure compensation feature.
Simply adjust the settings toward the plus side to brighten the photograph or move it to the negative side to make it darker.
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