Shutter speed and frame rate are two camera settings that do things very different from your image, but are also very interconnected, not only can they be configured to give your movies a style that audiences have been used to seeing for decades, but can also be adjusted to give the image an appearance that helps provoke desired emotions. Award-winning filmmaker Ray Tsang gives us a lesson in these two contexts, explaining what they are, what they do, and how they can be used to serve their story.
Let’s start with the basics.
Image frequency: The number of images captured per second
Shutter speed: the time each image is exposed to light
Golden Rule: The default shutter speed setting is twice the frame rate: (for example, 24p at 1/50)
Tsang does a great job of demonstrating the differences between high/low shutter speeds and image frequencies, which, among other things, results in more/less blurred movement and sharp, clear images. standard (24p to 1/50), or better yet, how different image frequencies and shutter speeds can emotionally affect the audience, here are some examples:
Idle
We are all very familiar with this, because very often it is the first thing you try when you start playing with the frequency settings of the image. Higher frame rate settings will cause slow motion; As more images are captured per second, the shot can be delayed without breaking the illusion of movement.
Action scenes
Higher shutter speeds give sharper images, sharper images, like the ones we see all the time in action movies, sports, and other motion-containing media (also video games). In fact, this has been called ‘Style Saving Private Ryan’. ?and you may have noticed that in some scenes of Extermination, too.
Ultimately, shutter speeds and image frequencies can change the appearance of your image, as well as how your audience understands the image and movie. Aren’t these just settings you can configure and forget? In reality, they can become dynamic storytelling devices. The speed and frequency of the image are the two camera settings that are often confused, but are very important.
The good news is that with a closer look at what each scenario can really offer, it gives you control and can use them together to really strengthen your storytelling style.
In the end, try to play and find out for yourself what each of these two parameters can do for you, it’s your movie. Don’t be afraid to deviate from the 180-degree shutter rule (shutter speed: twice your frame rate) when it’s relevant to the narrative. A shutter speed greater than twice its frame rate can produce choppy images, which is ideal for more energetic and action-packed scenes. At the other end, a slower speed than twice its frame rate can produce blurry images and dark images, making it ideal for flashbacks or altered mental scenes.