Running child at 1/30 s — motion blur
A child running, photographed with a slow shutter speed.
Camera
Not specified
Lens
Not specified
Focal length
85 mm
Aperture
f/5.6
Shutter speed
1/30 s
ISO
100
Focus
Continuous AF
White balance
Daylight
Flash
Not used
Tripod
Not used
Why does this photo look like this?
At 1/30 s the shutter stays open long enough for the child to move across the frame while the picture is being taken, so the movement is painted as blur.
Look at this
Arms, legs and the background are smeared. Nothing in the frame is truly crisp.
What would change with different settings
Speed up to 1/500 s and the same movement is almost completely frozen.
Shutter speed comparison
A running child at four different shutter speeds.
Demo imageRunning child at 1/30 s — motion blur
Motion blur
1/30 s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
Demo imageRunning child at 1/125 s — less motion blur
Less motion blur
1/125 s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
Demo imageRunning child at 1/500 s — movement mostly frozen
Movement mostly frozen
1/500 s · f/5.6 · ISO 200
Demo imageRunning child at 1/1000 s — fast movement frozen
Fast movement frozen
1/1000 s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
What changed
Only the shutter speed changed: 1/30 s → 1/125 s → 1/500 s → 1/1000 s.
What stayed the same
Same child, same distance, same framing, same daylight. ISO was allowed to rise so every frame stays equally bright.
What happens if you change the settings?
1/30 s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
Always check your exposure and adjust settings according to the actual lighting and movement.
These are starting settings, not universal rules.
Always check your exposure and adjust settings according to the actual lighting and movement.
More examples like this
Demo imageRunning child at 1/125 s — less motion blur
1/125 s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
Demo imageRunning child at 1/500 s — movement mostly frozen
1/500 s · f/5.6 · ISO 200
Demo imageRunning child at 1/1000 s — fast movement frozen
1/1000 s · f/5.6 · ISO 400