Photography tips slow shutter speed technique
Doesn’t really matter what type of photography you are doing a landscape, photojournalism , wedding photography , architecture etc.
The same “slow shutter speed technique” apples on any photographic genres.
Don’t worry too much if you don’t have any tripod with you and your lens without any image stabilizer (IS on Canon) or Vibration Reduction (VR on Nikon).
Most of the new DSLR’s or mirrorless cameras on the market, already has pretty good high ISO performance, but don’t rush to crank up ISO settings, sometimes if it’s static object as a landscape or buildings you can simply lower your ISO setting and slower the shutter speed.
For example, if you have your camera set in manual mode with 2500 ISO | aperture f4 | shutter 1/250 you can lower the ISO level and compensate it with lowering shutter speed as well, so the exposure level will be the same.
Please remember as longer the lens as harder to keep it steady.
In this shot I used Nikon latest D750 DSLR with an amazing wide angle lens Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8
After a few seconds of practising I decided to push a little bit the limits and set the camera on ISO 100 | f2.8 | 1.0 shutter 😉 (yes it’s 1 second)
After an about an 5 shots I finally nailed it and here is the result.
Just to make sure I’m not the steadiest person on earth 😉
It’s funny, but most of the time my wife much steadier than me in this regards.
Another example is less extreme in terms of shutter speed.
Camera settings were ISO 800 | f2.8 | 1/10
on Nikon D810 and Nikkor 14-24mm lens
The same Mississauga Convention Centre – I simply love this building, and there is a lot of Weddings we had here last year.
or This gorgeous “Greek Orthodox Church of Prophet Elias” in Mississauga, Ontario
Nikon D810 + 14-24mm wide angle lens
Camera settings ISO 64 | f2.8 | 1/30
Nikon D810 + 14-24mm wide angle lens
same camera settings ISO 64 | f2.8 | 1/30
Amazing church ceiling at the same Greek Orthodox Church , I can look at it for an hour.
Nikon D810 great camera in this regards. The shutter lag is very short and the mirror vibration is very well controlled, so you can go very slow with your shutter speed, and the lowest basic ISO goes to a 64 and the Dynamic Range at the ISO 64 is just incredible.
Anyway, you can apply the same technique for any camera that you are using.
So let’s get started :
1 – Set your camera to manual
2 – Adjust your settings according to exposure
3 – Compose
4 – Make yourself into a comfortable position
5 – Relax
6 – Breathe in and out slowly. My release usually takes place half way into the exhale.
7 – Take a picture
This technique works for me and hopefully will work for you as well.
Always remember “Practice makes perfect”!
Enjoy
George Kash
Toronto Wedding and Portrait photographer