My Biggest Mistake? The Hidden Flaw in My Best Shot

A look into the unintended consequences of using an electronic shutter under artificial lighting.

That afternoon, I was reviewing the photos I had taken over the past month with my mentor, and when I showed him a photo I had taken at a friend's wedding, he put his hands on his head.

"You used the electronic shutter, didn’t you?" he asked.

I did. I usually use it when I’m doing street photography because I like to get close to people, and the clicking sound of the mechanical shutter might give me away.

However, he explained, the electronic shutter is really only beneficial when shooting with very fast shutter speeds. Otherwise, it has some downsides. One of those downsides, as he pointed out, is that when shooting in an environment lit by artificial lighting, the electronic shutter can cause interference with the lights, creating stripes on the image, just like in the photo.

This wouldn’t be such a big deal except for one thing: “This is the best photograph you’ve ever shown me. It’s outstanding,” he said.

Now, I put hands on my head.

He then asked me to send him the image so he could try to fix the issue.

I hope he succeeds...