Shutter speed, also known as “exposure time” stands for the length of time a camera shutter is open to expose light into the camera sensor. If the shutter speed is fast, it can help to freeze action completely, If the shutter speed is slow, it can create an effect called “motion blur”, where moving objects appear blurred along the direction of the motion. This effect is used quite a bit in advertisements of cars and motorways to blur out any moving wheels. Slow shutter speeds are also used to photograph lightnings or other objects at night or in dim environments with a tripod. Landscape photographers intentionally use slow shutter speeds to create a sense of motion on rivers and waterfalls, while keeping everything else in focus.
Fast shutter speed
Fast shutter speed- 1/800 Fast shutter speeds have the opposite effect – they freeze movement. A fast shutter speed could be considered anything over 1/500th of a second, what this means is that the shutter opens for just 1/500th of a second. In that brief moment everything is frozen and captured!However for fast shutter speed you would need a wide aperture and good light in order to get a good picture.
Medium shutter speed
Medium shutter speed-1/400 Medium shutter speed can be used if you would prefer half blur and half in focus like for example in scar racing. You might want the cars in blur but the background in focus or even opposite. This can have a big effect on am image and gives a sense of life.
Slow shutter speed
Slow shutter speed- 1/8 Slow shutter speed is used for two reasons – first, because it's quite dark and more light is needed into the camera. Or second, because we want to introduce some blur into our photo. However in slow shutter speed a key thing to remember is that anything that moves then comes out a blur in the picture for example her hair in the picture above.
Shutter speed is measured in seconds or fractions of a second. For example, ½ second is “slower” than 1/1000 second and 1/500s is “faster” that 1/60s. Short shutter speeds are generally used to freeze action. Longer shutter speeds are used to blur action. Shutter speed values double with each setting. For example, 1/500s is letting in twice the amount of light as 1/1000s. As you go down the shutter speed scale, the amount of light being let in doubles. As you go up the scale, in each setting there is half the amount of light being let in