Introduction

Fast shutter speeds are often used to freeze action sequences such as important moments in sports. This is a photographic technique that allows you to take sharp pictures of moving subjects.

In this photograph, a Shutter Priority Mode with shutter speed 1/250^th of a second was used to freeze the leading cyclist. Note that a picture taken with the movement coming toward the camera implies less speed to the viewer than when the subject is traveling across our field of vision.

World Cycling

Here, we used the Shutter Priority Mode and choose a shutter speed 1/320^th of a second. This shutter speed is sufficient to render  the horse and the cowboy in focus.

Saddle Bronc Rider

In this image, a shutter speed of 1/320^th of a second was used to freeze the drops of water, thrown up by the horse, into crisp detail. The cowboy and the horse were kept in focus by using the auto focus mode while they were further away and by shooting as many images as possible as they moved closer to the photographer.

Dashing (Idaho, US)

Photography is about capturing a given moment. This is made more challenging when fast camera action is required to take pictures of moving subjects. In this image, a shutter speed of 1/500^th of a second enabled the photographer to capture the precise moment when the Little Bee-Eater was sharing a meal with his companion.

Little Bee-Eater Sharing (Kenya)

Here, an even faster shutter speed was used to capture the details of the vulture about to land. The continuous focus mode (camera keeps subject in focus until the shutter pressed) was employed when the vulture was approaching, and a shutter speed of 1/1000^th of a second was used.  This let the photographer take multiple images of the subject in a quest for the perfect perspective.

Vulture Landing (Kenya)

Conclusion

Fast shutter speeds allow the photographer to capture moving subjects effectively. They also increase the number of frames that can be taken during a short, but often critical, time span.