Dragging shutter speed?

Question

What does it mean to drag the shutter speed? and how is this done?

Answer 1

Dragging the shutter means using a longer shutter speed to get a better exposure (typically to the background) by "adding" more ambient light while setting the aperture to correctly expose the subject or foreground.

In a typical flash photo in a dark area, you usually have the subject lit up by the flash with an essentially black background. When you drag the shutter, you'll allow more ambient light in which will help give the background some definition.

Answer 2

I've never heard the term 'dragging the shutter speed' either but I would be inclined to agree with Cinco13's definition. Also when i first heard it, my first thought was using a slower shutter to add movement to the photo - for example, following a moving vehicle with the viewfinder which with a slow shutter, will blurr the background resulting in a final image giving the impression of a moving vehicle.

http://www.straightshots.co.nz

Answer 3

Cinco is absolutely correct!

Wedding photography is where you will hear this term, and frequently! You drag the shutter so the bride and party won't look like they're in a cave! But it is useful indoors (or even outside, sometimes) any time when you want to be able to see what's in the background and still use the flash to light the subject. It does take a little practice to get it right.

Answer 4

Cinco is right - give him the best answer vote.

I've attached a web link that demonstrates the effect.

Here is another term for you - Rear Sync flash. This is often used with the dragging the shutter technique and means that the flash fires at the end of the exposure.

Answer 5

As a photographer, I've never heard about dragging the shutter speed. I don't think it's a term that is used in photography normally -- you might want to ask the person who told you about it what they really meant.

Answer 6

very confusing matter. check out with the search engines. this will help!