Shutter Speed

Canon 600D @ f/22, 1/4 sec, ISO-100 (Panorama)

What is shutter speed?

Shutter speed is the amount of time a camera shutter is open to allow light into the camera sensor. Fast shutter speed will freeze the motion, while slow shutter speed capture motion blurring. Fast shutter speed will also gives under exposed photos while slow shutter speed otherwise. The choice of selected shutter speed is really depends on what type of photograph you want to capture. The examples below show that the shutter speed will affect the exposure of your photo. 

Canon 600D @ 49mm, f/9, 1/60 sec, ISO-100

Canon 600D @ 49mm, f/9, 1/30 sec, ISO-100

Canon 600D @ 49mm, f/9, 1/15 sec, ISO-100

Canon 600D @ 49mm, f/9, 1/8 sec, ISO-100

Canon 600D @ 49mm, f/9, 1/5 sec, ISO-100

And here are the other examples of photos taken with different shutter speed

Canon 600D @ 49mm, f/36, 2 sec, ISO-100

Canon 600D @ 49mm, f/13, 1/6 sec, ISO-100

Canon 600D @ 49mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec, ISO-100

Canon 600D @ 49mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec, ISO-1600

With shutter speed of 2 seconds (first photo), you can get a smooth and blur waterfall. While with shutter speed of 1/800 seconds, the water is freeze.  

What shutter speed to use?

Jump photography

High shutter speed allows the camera to freeze the motion, so that you can levitate.

Animals and insects 

High shutter speed is preferred in this scenario.

Waterfall

Low shutter speed makes the water flows smoothly as shown in the example above. 

Light trails

Low shutter speed allows you to capture the light movement in your photo.