Slow Shutter Speed

While most photos are shot with the intent of being as sharp as possible, photos with intentional blurring of motion give an added sense of movement to the viewer. This could be a dancer on stage, a car passing by, or stars in the night sky.

The obvious method of blurring movement is to make your shutter speed slower. Panning or even combining multiple exposures in one shot are other advanced methods you could try out if you wanted.

But paying attention to the technical aspect is just one facet of this challenge (of every challenge, really) - your photo should be telling a story or capturing a moment in time that works well and resonates with you and your viewer. The basics of composition, framing and creativity are something you should always keep in mind.

So start looking up at cloud movements, or look down at the tides. Maybe kids on a playground swing will grab your attention. Star trails, ICM (impressionist photography), sports photography, light painting, there are so many cool ideas and subjects for you to try out with a slow shutter. But do remember, we're not looking for out-of-focus shot or bokeh blur - we're looking for motion blur, which is the blur caused by the passage of time.

TIPS:

Patience: Getting a good motion blur photo is going to be an experiment in trial and error, with plenty of lessons in exasperation and patience. Make sure that you have more than enough time, empty camera cards and full batteries.
Stability: Capturing a long exposure means that you are going to have to use a tripod or place your camera on a sturdy surface.
Plan: Blurry photos often just look messy, so plan ahead carefully. Whatever you shoot, remember not to blur the story!
Tell A Story: Pay as much attention to your composition and the tone of the image as you would to the technical side.
Choose your lens wisely: Depending on your composition a wide angle prime might work just as well as a telephoto zoom. It's up to you and the composition you want to grab.

Things to check out:

Understanding shutter speed, both slow and fast.
A guide to slow shutter speed photographyplus 7 creative effects you can achieve with slow shutter speed.
Long exposure photography tips with examples and more great shots.
Special effect - How to create multiple flash exposures in a single frame.
How to capture exciting action photos with second-curtain sync flash.
A beginner's guide to neutral density filters.
📱 Use your smartphone's manual mode or 'pro' mode to control shutter speed and more. If your smartphone doesn't come with manual mode, try one of these apps! 📱

Fast Shutter Speed

Tips and Tutorials

The faster the subject that you want to photograph is moving, the faster your shutter speed should be.
When to use a fast shutter speed.
26 burst shooting fast shutter speed photos.
How to adjust your fast shutter speed.
5 mobile photography tricks for capturing action shots.
Tips for shooting fast action photos in low light.
The perfect camera settings for action and sports photography.
Freezing time: 80 inspiring examples of high-speed photography.