Length of Time

The necessity of exposing the sensor to light in order to create an image, and the restriction of having to do so in varying lengths of time, has given us an ability to express, or imply, time in our images. With a turn of the dial, our choice of shutter speed can capture the passage of time or create an image that appears to stop time entirely. Shutter speed is not only a means for creating the right exposure, but for making a photograph that says precisely what you want to say and gives the feeling you want. Rethinking the role of shutter speed and its aesthetic effects can have a profound influence on the images you create. It’s not magic, and there’s no great secret here; it’s just the decision to become more intentional about ...

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