Hi, I am a second year bachelor of arts student. I am learning about different lighting techniques in photography as part of my course but I am facing difficulties in understanding hard vs soft light and how that affects photos. Can someone please explain this to me or share some resources to learn from?
Soft light is scattered light and comes from a bigger source, so the light falls off more gently and shadows are softer. Hard light comes from a smaller source so the transition from light to shadow is sharper and you get more defined shadows. Diffusers and softboxes help create softer light. Experiment with different types of lights and see the difference. Good luck!
The angle of the light also matters. Frontal light gives a more flattering look for portraits while side lighting gives texture and shadows on the face. Experiment with different positions to find what works for the photos you want to shoot. Overheads softers features while bottom lighting gives a more dramatic effect.
Play around with your existing room lights, the window light and even a basic reflector to understand the concepts. You don’t need expensive gear as a beginner, just basic lights are enough to learn how light affects your photographs. Remember lighting is 70% of a good photograph!
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