Two photographs of the same white group: above, in direct sun with crisp dark cast shadows; below, in weak diffused light with faint, soft shadows.

Concept · Seeing Light

Hard and Soft Light

A source that looks small from the subject, such as the distant sun, gives hard light; one that looks large, such as an overcast sky or a nearby big window, gives soft light.

Hard light makes sharp-edged shadows and strong contrast. Soft light wraps around forms and its shadows fade at the edges.

  • Outdoors, Cross noted, light reflected from every direction makes shadows lighter than indoors.

See

Image: Internet Archive · Public domain (published before 1931)

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