Shutter Speed!

Okay, so here's the thing about shutter speed:

The shutter opens in order to let light into the camera to expose the film, similar to the aperture. However, it is only open for a certain amount of time, such as 1/30 of a second or 1/1000 of a second or what have you, depending on the setting. In general, the settings double as they go, such as from 1/2s to 1s. When used in conjunction with the aperture, the shutter speed allows for the proper exposure of the film. Let's say, for instance, you're shooting in a dark area. To capture the image properly, you need to let more light in. This can be achieved using a larger aperture. However, this can also be achieved with a longer shutter speed. The longer the shutter is open for, the longer a window of light exists to expose the film. Ta-dah!

Unfortunately, my camera has an automatic shutter speed, so it automatically compensates for the light lacking from the aperture (I think.) So this concept feels a little bit distant to me :(