Wildlife Shutter Speed: You’re Using the Wrong One

Steve Perry

Steve Perry

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Choosing the right *shutter speed for wildlife photography* can mean the difference between a tack-sharp action shot, unwanted motion blur, excessive ISO, or a creative image that really shows movement.

In this video, I’ll show you the **wildlife shutter speeds I actually use in the field**, from slow shutter speeds like 1/20 second for panning and intentional motion blur all the way to 1/8000 second for fast birds in flight and explosive wildlife action.

We’ll look at shutter speeds for static wildlife, walking and running animals, birds in flight, bird takeoffs and landings, jumping and leaping mammals, shaking animals, rain and snow, wing blur, panning, swimming, feeding, head movement, and more.

More importantly, I’ll show you how I decide which shutter speed to use based on the situation. We’ll cover how subject distance, movement within the animal, available light, ISO, and your own ability to track a moving subject can change the shutter speed you need.

You’ll also learn why faster isn’t always better, when slowing your shutter speed can improve a wildlife photo, why I’d usually rather have a sharp noisy image than a clean blurry one, and why I like to “get greedy” with shutter speed when the light allows it.

FREE WILDLIFE SHUTTER SPEED CHEAT SHEET

I also put together a free four-page Wildlife Shutter Speed Guide with starting shutter speeds for dozens of common wildlife situations. It’s designed as a quick reference so you don’t have to memorize all the numbers from the video.

https://backcountrygallery.com/wildli...

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Topics include:

Wildlife photography shutter speed  
Bird photography shutter speed  
Birds in flight settings  
Wildlife action photography  
Shutter speed for moving animals  
Slow shutter speed wildlife photography  
Wildlife panning techniques  
Bird takeoff shutter speeds  
Running animal shutter speeds  
Motion blur photography  
Wildlife photography ISO  
How to get sharper wildlife photos  
Wildlife photography camera settings

0:00 Intro
1:08 Deliberate Blur: Panning, Rain & Wing Blur
3:47 Still Wildlife & Low Light
4:59 The Self-Timer Trick
6:45 Everyday Wildlife Shutter Speeds
9:52 Fast & Explosive Action
12:14 Modifier #1: Subject Distance
12:48 Modifier #2: Small Movements
13:37 Shutter Speed vs ISO
14:21 Modifier #3: Get Greedy With Shutter Speed
15:46 Final Thoughts & Free Shutter Speed Guide