{"id":249584,"date":"2021-05-11T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/whats-the-difference-between-hard-and-soft-light-in-photography\/"},"modified":"2021-05-11T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T12:00:00","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-hard-and-soft-light-in-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-difference-between-hard-and-soft-light-in-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"#What\u2019s the Difference between Hard and Soft Light in Photography?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2cf17d9828d\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2cf17d9828d\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-difference-between-hard-and-soft-light-in-photography\/#What_Is_Hard_Light\" >What Is Hard Light?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-difference-between-hard-and-soft-light-in-photography\/#What_Is_Soft_Light\" >What Is Soft Light?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/whats-the-difference-between-hard-and-soft-light-in-photography\/#Which_Do_I_Want_in_My_Photos\" >Which Do I Want in My Photos?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#What\u2019s the Difference between Hard and Soft Light in Photography?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-725419 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/preview-2.jpg?width=1200&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"comparison of hard and soft light\" width=\"1200\" height=\"555\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\" data-credittext=\"Harry Guinness\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\">Harry Guinness<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In photography, there are two kinds of light: hard light and soft light. Let\u2019s look at the difference between them, and why it matters.<\/p>\n<p>But in my opinion, there\u2019s only one kind of light, and it all exists on a hard-to-soft spectrum. In fact, it\u2019s almost impossible to find a completely hard or soft light source in the real world. Instead, light is either harder or softer relative to other light. Still, the two labels are useful.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Hard_Light\"><\/span>What Is Hard Light?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-725420 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/1-hard-light.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"hard light demo\" width=\"650\" height=\"487\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\" data-credittext=\"Harry Guinness\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The bright sun overhead is a hard-light source, so it\u2019s casting hard-edged shadows. Look at how my eyebrow ridge casts a shadow over my eyes. <span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\">Harry Guinness<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Hard light comes from a small light source relative to the size of the subject. It casts hard-edged, firmly delineated, directional shadows, which is how you can recognize it.<\/p>\n<p>Think of the sun. It\u2019s actually quite a small light source when it\u2019s high in the sky, so it gives off hard light. That\u2019s why the shadows cast on a sunny day are so strongly defined.<\/p>\n<p>Any small light source will give off similarly strong shadows. Indoor lighting is pretty hard, as are street lights, car lights, and most other artificial lights. The built-in flash on your smartphone or camera is also an incredibly hard light source, as it\u2019s so small.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_note\"><p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Relative size matters here. If you\u2019re taking portraits with an external flash, you might have a relatively hard light source\u2014but if you used the same one to take macro photographs of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/73373\/11-great-beginner-lego-sets-for-adults\/\">Lego sets<\/a>, it would <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ear much softer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Soft_Light\"><\/span>What Is Soft Light?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-725421 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2-soft-light.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"soft light source\" width=\"650\" height=\"488\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\" data-credittext=\"Harry Guinness\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This was taken a few moments later. The big window is a soft light source, so there\u2019s a gradual shift between the shadows and the highlights. You can really see it on the wall over my shoulder. <span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\">Harry Guinness<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Soft light comes from a large light source relative to the subject. It casts soft-edged, gradual shadows without much definition. Soft light often occurs when hard light sources are reflected, diffused, or otherwise bounced around.<\/p>\n<p>For example, while the sun is a hard light source, on a cloudy day, you can get incredible soft light from it. The clouds diffuse it, so instead of all the light coming from a single point, it comes from the entire sky.<br \/>\n Similarly, you can get mostly soft light when you stand in the shadow of a building or an alley. Windows are another good source of soft light, and you can also get it just before the sun rises and right after it sets, where light is getting reflected instead of directly hitting your subject.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Do_I_Want_in_My_Photos\"><\/span>Which Do I Want in My Photos?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While there are few absolutes in photography and both hard and soft light have their places, soft light is <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly preferable.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-725422 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3-hard-example.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"good hard light photo\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\" data-credittext=\"Harry Guinness\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hard light adds drama, but it\u2019s more challenging to work with. <span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\">Harry Guinness<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p> Hard light gives a lot of dimensionality and drama to your images. However, that\u2019s not always a good thing. It can add too much contrast and tends to make people look a bit off. It can also emphasize small blemishes and spots. These are all reasons why direct flash can be hard to work with.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-725423 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4-soft-example.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"good soft light example\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\" data-credittext=\"Harry Guinness\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soft light is very flattering for portraits. <span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\">Harry Guinness<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Soft light, on the other hand, is a lot more natural-looking, and it\u2019s especially flattering for portraits. There are fewer harsh shadows, so it\u2019s much easier to get well-exposed images.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not that you can\u2019t take great photos with hard light. It\u2019s just that soft light is easier to get right.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-725424 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5-real-world.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"mixed light example\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\" data-credittext=\"Harry Guinness\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In the real world, you have to work with what\u2019s there. <span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/snapsure.app\">Harry Guinness<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>However, if you plan to take photos in the real world, you\u2019re going to have to deal with both hard and soft light\u2014and everything in between. While you can manipulate your light sources in the studio, out in the wild, you have to work with what\u2019s there. Understanding the kind of available light\u00a0will inform your other creative decisions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Always Get the Photo You Want<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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Let\u2019s look at the difference between them, and why it matters. But in my opinion, there\u2019s only one kind of light, and it all exists on a hard-to-soft spectrum. In&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":249585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/preview-2.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-249584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}