The shutter is stuck...all I see is black

A stuck shutter is another common failure mode for digital cameras. The symptoms of a stuck or "sticky" shutter are very similar to CCD image sensor failure. The camera may take black pictures (for shutter stuck closed), or the pictures may be very bright and overexposed, sometimes with lines, especially when taken outdoors (for shutter stuck open). To confirm a stuck shutter, put the camera in any mode other than "Auto", and turn the flash OFF (you don't want to blind yourself for the next step). Next look down the lens and take a picture. You should see a tiny flicker in the center of the lens as the shutter opens and closes. If no movement is seen, then you likely have a stuck shutter. If so, please see this link for further info and a simple fix that may help.

I know it may sound like the shutter is moving, but you're going to have to actually look down the lens barrel to confirm it's actually moving, and not just producing a sound effect from the camera. Also keep in mind Canon's SX IS series cameras are notorious for the following problem (fantastic cameras otherwise).
A stuck shutter is another common failure mode for digital cameras. The symptoms of a stuck or "sticky" shutter are very similar to CCD image sensor failure. The camera may take black pictures (for shutter stuck closed), or the pictures may be very bright and overexposed, sometimes with lines, especially when taken outdoors (for shutter stuck open). To confirm a stuck shutter, put the camera in any mode other than "Auto", and turn the flash OFF (you don't want to blind yourself for the next step). Next look down the lens and take a picture. You should see a tiny flicker in the center of the lens as the shutter opens and closes. If no movement is seen, then you likely have a stuck shutter. If so, please see this link for further info and a simple fix that may help.

Sounds like the film is not exposed, shutter not opening. If possible fire the shutter with the camera open/back off, pointed towards a light source, if the shutter opens you will see the light thru the shutter/lens. If no light is seen then the shutter is stuck.

I would say either the film didn't wind properly as it was going along,or the shutter isn't working properly.Did it make the whirring noise like it was winding after you took a picture?If you can,try taking a picture with the door open,no film,and see if the shutter moves.If it does open,it's probably the winder which pulls the film after a picture is taken.Good luck!

Start simple and go from there.

I don't know if you have film in the camera so I'll read the following and choose what works for you.

I will assume the battery is working if applicable.

As stupid as this sounds press the shutter release button. If the shutter is cocked it will hold the advance. I've had people come in with this problem.

Not it?

If the film rewind has been pressed in it will disengage the film advance and stop the shutter mechanism as a result. Open the camera and close the back again resets the release.

If there is film in the camera remove it.

It there are important photos on the film and your rewind is not working use a coat to make a light proof black box. Just turn the sleeves inside out and put the camera in the coat. Wrap it so as it is closed to light. Open the camera remove the film and roll the film back in by hand.

OK so now we have a camera open with no film in it.

Open the back and look just below the shutter. On one side will be a very small "lever". This tells the camera that the film has been advanced and the shutter is cocked. Gently move the lever to the right. It should click. Now try pressing the shutter release.
Note that without film in the camera some cameras will not advance the shutter.

It should clear the problem.

If not something physical in jamming.

The film advance system could be jamming. On the side the film advance is on there will be a plastic "gear" inside the camera. Try moving by hand it should turn. You can reset the shutter this way.

Give this a try.

Hope this is helpful, if it gives you some direction please rate this answer.

Thanks

The shutter could be stuck or the mirror could be stuck. (Guessing you have an SLR.)
The film advancing is normal; means it is cocked and ready to go but something is stuck.

Take off the lens and see if anything is keeping the mirrors/shutters from returning.

I can help you understand what is going on with your problem, but it is a problem you should not try and fix yourself. When your camera hit the dirt, it probably broke the shutter mechanism.
The symptom you mentioned with the black pictures means that the shutter (allows light to the medium) is not moving.

When you take a picture, the shutter moves very fast. It is what regulates how long light hits the medium (regular cameras, it's film, in digital cameras, it's the ccd.)

Bottom line, your going to have to take it to an authorized repair shop for the make of your camera. Probably be around $200. to repair. Sorry for the bad news. Let me know what you think in a comment if you want, and thanks for coming to FixYa. Feel free to rate my answer.

Rob

A stuck shutter is another common failure mode for digital cameras. The symptoms of a stuck or "sticky" shutter are very similar to CCD image sensor failure. The camera may take black pictures (for shutter stuck closed), or the pictures may be very bright and overexposed, especially when taken outdoors (for shutter stuck open).

To confirm a stuck shutter, put the camera in any mode other than "Auto", and turn the flash OFF (you don't want to blind yourself for the next step). Next look down the lens and take a picture. You should see a tiny flicker in the center of the lens as the shutter opens and closes. If no movement is seen, then you likely have a stuck shutter. If so, please see the following for further info and a simple fix that may help:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2009/05/simple-fix-for-stuck-shutter.html

If the shutter blades get bent they are hard to straighten out. Better to find a local repairman or you could do more damage to the shutter. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

I'm afraid this is almost certainly a shutter fault - the second curtain of the focal-plane shutter is getting stuck half-way across the film and therefore not shutting properly. The fact that the other half of each frame is OK makes me think that the second curtain is not sticking totally but just moving very slowly for half of its run, thus seriously overexposing that half of the film. This is a repair shop job - unless you want to try it yourself: it may be just some dirt stuck in the track the shutter curtain runs in, but a fair bit of skill is needed to get to it & clean it without damaging anything!