Photography 101: Shutter Speed and the Reciprocal Rule

One of the reasons why you may not be getting sharp images may be due to your shutter speed. In this video, I want to introduce a simple rule that will mitigate camera shake and help you produce higher quality images.

Shutter Speed And The Reciprocal Rule | Photography 101

The Reciprocal Rule

Movement by your hands can be one of the reasons why your images may not be coming out sharp. This is called camera shake. One of the ways that we can mitigate and lessen camera shake is through the reciprocal rule.

The Reciprocal Rule essentially states that the shutter speed needs to be at least the inverse of your focal length. Although it sounds a lot more complicated, it’s actually really simple.

For example, if you’re shooting with a 50mm lens, then your shutter speed should be at 1/50. If you’re shooting with a 100mm lens, then your shutter speed should be at least 1/100.

The reason being, the longer your lens, the more exaggerated your movement becomes. Therefore, you need to shoot at faster shutter speeds in order to minimize movement so that the image doesn’t have any camera shake.

CHAPTER 1: BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY CONCEPTS

• 1.1 – Photography 101 Trailer
• 1.2 – The Workshop Format
• 1.3 – The Camera is Simply a Tool
• 1.4 – How Does a Camera Work
• 1.5 – How to Adjust Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO
• 1.6 – Exposure Triangle
• 1.7 – Exercise: Practice Adjusting Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO
• 1.8 – What is a Stop of Light
• 1.9 – Reading Exposure via the Histogram
• 1.10 – Blown Highlights or Clipped Details
• 1.11 – 6 Tips to Understanding White Balance and Color Temperature
• 1.12 – Assignment: Histogram and Highlight Alert Practice
• 1.13 – Assignment: Mixed Lighting
• 1.14 – Quiz on Chapter 1: Basic Photography Concepts

CHAPTER 2: UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE

• 2.1 – No Such Thing as the Correct Exposure
• 2.2 – How to Measure or Meter Light
• 2.3 – 8 Key Points to Understanding ISO and Image Quality
• 2.4 – Exercise | Understanding ISO
• 2.5 – Understanding the 3 Primary Metering Modes
• 2.6 – How to Get Perfect Exposures in One Shot
• 2.7 – Assignment: Portrait Using Spot Metering
• 2.8 – Equivalent Exposure but Different Images
• 2.9 – Compensating for Light and Dark Scenes
• 2.10 – Quiz on Chapter 2: Understanding Exposure

CHAPTER 3: FROM AUTO MODES TO MANUAL

• 3.1 – Starting with Automated Modes
• 3.2 – Auto Mode and Flash-Off Mode
• 3.3 – Exercise: From Auto Modes to Manual
• 3.4 – Portrait Mode on a Fashion Shoot
• 3.5 – Assignment: Outdoor Back-lit Portrait
• 3.6 – Landscape Mode on the Beach
• 3.7 – Assignment: Long Exposure
• 3.8 – Sports or Action Mode/a>
• 3.9 – Assignment | Sports or Action Shot
• 3.10 – Macro Mode with Food Photography
• 3.11 – Assignment | Food Photography
• 3.12 – Creative Effects Mode – Floral Photography
• 3.13 – Exercise | Creative Auto Modes
• 3.14 – In-Camera Processing
• 3.15 – Exercise | Pictures Styles and Picture Control
• 3.16 – A Glimpse Into Raw Processing
• 3.17 – Quiz on Chapter 3: From Auto Modes to Manual

CHAPTER 4: SHARP IMAGES AND FOCUSING TECHNIQUES

• 4.1 – AI Servo with Action Shots
• 4.2 – 15 Tips for When You’re Having Trouble Focusing Your Camera/a>
• 4.3 – 3 Primary Types of Autofocus
• 4.4 – Single Shot with Portrait Session
• 4.5 – Assignment: One Shot Focusing Mode for a Sharp Portrait
• 4.5 – Landscape Mode on the Beach
• 4.6 – Single Shot with Action Shots
• 4.7 – Assignment | Focus Recomposing and AF Selection
• 4.8 – Focus Recomposing vs AF Point Selection
• 4.9 – Assignment | Focus Recomposing and AF Selection
• 4.10 – Shutter Speed and the Reciprocal Rule
• 4.11 – How to Hold a Camera and Panning Tutorial
• 3.13 – Exercise | Creative Auto Modes
• 4.12 – Assignment | Panning
• 4.13- Quiz on Chapter 4: Sharp Images and Focusing Techniques

Chapter 5: COMPOSITION, ARTISTRY, AND CREATING GREAT IMAGES

• 5.1 – How to Find the Right Light Direction
• 5.2 What Makes a Great Photograph
• 5.3 How to Capture Candid Moments
• 5.4. Assignment | Candid Moments
• 5.5 Assignment | Flattering Cast Natual Light
• 5.6 Basic Compositional Theories
• 5.7 Assignment | Symmetry
• 5.8. Assignment | Leading Lines
• 5.9 Assignment | Rules of Thirds
• 5.10 Assignment | Triangles and Geometry
• 5.11– Assignment | Negative Space
• 5.12 – The Power of Cropping
• 5.13 Color Schemes
• 5.14 Assignment | Color Schemes
• 5.15 Diving into the Narrative
• 5.16 Assignment | The Narrative
• 5.17 If It’s not Working With, It’s Probably Working Against
• 5.18 Quiz on Chapter 5: Composition Artistry and Creating Great Images

Chapter 6: LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR CAMERA

• 6.1 10 Tips on Buying Gear
• 6.2 More About Your Camera and Lenses
• 6.3 Understanding Megapixels
• 6.4 Crop vs. Full Frame Cameras
• 6.5 Crop vs. Full Frame Cameras Demonstration
• 6.6 Prime vs. Zoom Lens
• 6.7 How the Lens Affects Composition
• 6.8 Exercise | Lens Compression
• 6.9 RAW vs. JPEG | The Ultimate Visual Guide
• 6.10 5 Tips on Memory Cards
• 6.11 Quiz on Chapter 6: Learning More About Your Camera

Chapter 7: BONUS

• 7.1 Posing and Action Shots with Female Model
• 7.2 Posing and Lighting with Female Model/a>
• 7.3 Posing and Lighting Couple Portraits

Total Course Run Time: 6H 30M 21S