Shutter Speed Experiment

Shutter speed is described as the unit of measurement which determines how long the camera shutter remains open as each picture is taken. The slower the shutter speed, the longer the exposure time. The shutter speed and aperture together control the total amount of light reaching the sensor.

The video shows the falling drops and splashes made from one water fountain, in three different shutter speeds. This video consists of three separate recordings filmed in dissimilar speeds of 1/30, 1/50, and 1/250. They have been placed in the order of lowest to highest speed. For the first speed of 1/30, the water droplets cascade down in a continuous shower, appearing as rapid lines of white light, before hitting the water surface, creating the impression of cloud-like cotton wool. In the second speed of 1/50, the water lines appear thicker and seem to fall much faster, causing the cotton wool effect to become froth-like. Within the third and final speed of 1/250, the lines of water have disappeared, grouping together to become heavy droplets of snow-like balls, which hit the surface and cause the splashes to appear more lively, whilst the ripples in the water level are much more prominent.







As the screenshot shows, at a shutter speed of 1/30, the water drops appear thin, and seem to fall rapidly before landing on the water surface to form a resemblance of cotton wool.







In the following screenshot, at a shutter speed of 1/50, the water drops look as if they fall even faster, as they become slightly thicker, and create a froth-like effect once they hit the water surface.







Within the final screenshot, at a shutter speed of 1/250, the water drops seem to fall much heavier than before, as they have grouped together to form balls that hit the water at a greater impact.