Shutter Priority (TV)

7 Building Blocks of Photography 2

Shutter priority is also known as Time Value on some cameras (I wish manufacturers would agree on one name for each control) but it's exactly the same thing.

By using an appropriate shutter speed for the shot you're taking you can freeze or blur movement depending on what you want to achieve. Shutter priority mode can help you do this quickly and easily.

Shutter priority is a semi auto mode that gives you control of shutter speed and the camera chooses an aperture to make sure the exposure is correct. Sounds too good to be true doesn't it?

Well there is a fly in the ointment. Because there are loads more shutter speeds to choose from than there are apertures the camera often needs a bit of help from you to find an aperture that'll work with your chosen shutter speed.

How bright or dark it is also has an impact on shutter priority's ability to find an aperture and your ISO settings will help you. I explain how in this video of me photographing Lawrence on his skate board.

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