An electromagnetic camera shutter including an electrically conductive shutter blade and electrically conductive springs for urging the shutter blade into a first or a second position from a compressed position between the first and the second position. A permanent magnet is associated with said shutter blade and a control device applies a current through the springs and the shutter blade in a first direction to generate an electromagnetic field between the shutter blade and the permanent magnet so as to move the shutter blade from the first position to the second position and alternately, applies a current through the springs and the shutter blade in a second direction so as to move the shutter blade from the second position to the first position.