Lighting 101: Size of Light | Bergen County Photographer
On a day when the sky is clear, the sun casts a beam of light that produces deep sharp shadows onto the subject. This is hard light. when it is cloudy, the light cast in many directions becoming diffused, creating shadows that are more open. This is soft light.
The closer the light is to your subject, the larger it is in relation to it. The farther the light is, the smaller it is in relation to the subject.
The sun is very far from the earth, making it small in relation to it, therefore creating hard light. Since we cannot move the sun closer to make it bigger in relation to the earth, we use a light modifier. The clouds work as a light modifier to the sun. The sun lights up the clouds and the clouds light up the earth creating a larger light source and soft light.
Both types of light have their own place in photography. Hard light has a more dramatic feel, emphasizing high contrast and highlights. soft light, on the other hand is more even and better portrays colors and shapes of the subject.
Depending on what type of photography you are working on, you can choose between hard and soft light.
Hard Light
Soft Light