Kinds and Quality of Light
Hard Light
Hard light is that which comes from one light source that is far from the subject and this
light produces both the highlights and the hard-edged shadows. Among the sources of
hard light are the direct sunlight on a very bright day, the standard camera flash, the
naked bulb with clear glass and many others. The use of hard light provides a moody
and striking effect.
Soft light
The soft light is more subtle and creates softer shadows than hard lights. Often,
household bulbs and bulbs used in photography make use of soft light as it has tendency
to hide imperfections. In drawing, soft lights create regular shadows.