shutter work 101

December 04, 2023  •  6 Comments

Nature gifted us heavy, wet snow last week.  You could have built an igloo with it.  It was the first really substantial snow in several years and something in which neighborhood dogs were reveling.  I, on the other hand, was out with my camera for a personal workshop in shutter speeds. And the snow continued to fall for roughly four hours during the morning, which provided plenty of opportunity to photograph walls, gates, and doors in different conditions of winter dress.

One of the reasons I bought the Fujifilm X-T5 camera is that it has the same knobs and buttons cameras of yore had before electronic menus were developed - ASA, f stops, shutter speeds.  I can change everything without having to scroll through an electronic menu.  The camera has the menus as well, but being able to do it on the fly is always handy unless you have tons of presets.  I shifted between 1/8th of a second and as high as 1/2,000 of a second to achieve certain effect while the snow was falling.  Starting with this shot, you can see what appear to be streaks on both the gate and the stucco walls.  That is the falling snow at 1/40 of a second.

Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 1Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 1     

 

 

I basically shot close to 150 images, and during the process, I found 1/30 of s second more to my liking for the effect I was trying to achieve, which was a combination of the patterns in the existing patterns in the stucco and the long lines of falling snow.  The black and white image here demonstrates the early morning grayness that came with the snow.

Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 7Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 7
 

Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 4Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 4

Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 2Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 2

Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 5Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 5

 

 

In the image below, a bit of a breeze had come up, changing the angle of the streaks.

Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 6Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 6

 

 

I also experimented with stopping the snow.  Even at 1/2000 of a second (a relatively short period of time for the light to come through the lens) the intensity and size of the flakes made a difference in the clarity.  It was a too dark at faster than 1/2,000 to provide any contrast between the snow and the wall.

Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 3Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 3

Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 7Winter - snow and shutter speeds 2023 7  

Thanks to TTT, Barbara F. R., Connie, Steve, Lisa S., Rebecca, Ingrid, and Claudia for writing this week.

As the winter solstice approaches and nights are longer, I hope you still find time to be outside with camera in hand (after shoveling) to document the season.

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image©

 


 


Comments

Terry Thompson(non-registered)
I agree with that Immel guy! I tend to lean towards the 1/30 but they all look good due to your subject matter and framing. MERRY WINTER!!!
TT
Steve Immel(non-registered)
It was fun to examine the effects of shutter speed on these rendering of falling snow. Both the 1/30th of a second and 1/2000th are effective to me. The streaks are my usual approach but the blotches appeal, as well. Mostly I like the simplified and somewhat abstracted shapes and backgrounds you employed for your speed tests. Images 1, 2, 4 and 5 exemplify that approach.

You've prompted me pay more attention to shutter speed. I'm too driven by depth of field, I think.

Here's to more snow.
Veronica Lasky(non-registered)
These are great! Absolutely looks like paintings, GOOD paintings. Hang on to that camera. It is serving you well and adding to viewers' enjoyment . True confession: I kind of geeked out over this week's blog.
Sara Woodburn(non-registered)
Love these!
TTT(non-registered)
LOVE these!! Quick and easy tutorial for what shutter speed does. You feel the action even though the pic is static.
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