[ROXIO]

Ok so I'm taking these photography classes at an art center. My art teacher is like 80 years old and he explains everything clear as mud. I have always used an automatic and I finally got a manual. It is so freakin confusing. I know yer fstop depends on the lighting (low light=low fstop number and vis versa) but I am still confused with the whole shutter speed stuff. Can someone explain this to me in lamens terms?

[gymnast_girl_27]

okay, I've never taken a photography class, and I just got a manual too.. but I do know that like any shutter speed below 60, you need to use a tripod for... and like low shutter speeds are good for dark light and visa versa... I think... somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

btw, I'm gonna split this since it's a different question.

[Smeagol]

Hey,

Ok, the Shutter Speed is how long the little 'door' will be open exposing the film to light. The longer it is open, the more light it will allow in. If it's open too long, the film with be over exposed, and if not long enough, under exposed. Umm, how long it stays open is measured in fractions of a second, 1/30th is probably the slowest shutter speed you want to use without a tripod. Some people can take pictures at like 1/15th or something if they have a really steady hand, but I can't. This really does go hand in hand with the f-stop, because to the best of my understanding that's how 'wide' the 'door' opens. Does that make sense? You can take a picture with a really low (more light in) F-stop (like 1.8 or whatever, it gets lower, just not on my camera...) on a bright day, but you will have to make the shutter speed really fast (maybe like 1/800ths of a second...) to compensate for the shutter opening up a lot.

So I really hope that something in that was able to help you...

God bless

Matt

[barberjo]

Yeah, Smeagol did a great job explaining it. If you want to see it in action, do this - next time you shoot a roll, shoot the same thing 4-5 different times using different shutter speeds. WRITE DOWN which speeds you used and which order you used them. Then, when you develop the roll, you'll see the difference in speeds. That's how I really learned.

john

[Smeagol]

Thanks John, glad I did a good job. And all that writing and waiting... I have it soooo easy with digital...

Matt