Definition: Hard Light

Hard Light

Hard light is light that creates shadows with a sharp or negligible transition from light to dark. The light that creates it is strongly focussed from a small (or relatively small), single-point light source. Hard light is found where the lighting is direct, undiffused, and is not bouncing or scattered by local objects or conditions. The flash on your camera is a hard light source. When direct and undiffused by clouds the sun is also a hard light source. A hard light source is small (relatively) and/or distant.

Hard light creates sharp lines with little graduation of the shadows from light to dark.

Hard light creates sharp lines with little or no
graduation of the shadows from light to dark.

The transition from light to dark gets progressively smaller as light gets harder. Hard light creates harsh, sharp lines in the shadows with negligible or no transition from light to dark.
Hard light is generated from a small point-source of light that sharply focusses the beam.

Hard light is generated from a small point-source of light that sharply focusses the beam. It creates sharp, harsh shadow lines in the subject.

Related articles/links:
Photokonnexion pages:
Light and Lighting – Resource pages on Photokonnexion
Softbox (photographic glossary)
Make soft light work for you…
Soft Light (Information and use)
Soft Light (Definition)
Hard Light (Information and use)
Hard Light (Definition)
See the quality of the light

On the web:
Virtual lighting studio by zvork (interactive) External link - opens new tab/page
The importance of eggs External link - opens new tab/page

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Definition: Hard Light

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