It’s very easy to find photography articles that talk about how to get diffused light, the wonderful photos you can achieve with that soft light, and even how to avoid harsh light. As if this were a contagious disease. Sorry for the exaggeration, but sometimes it seems. A pity, because that only leads us to believe that hard light is not good for much more than to avoid it, or to flush it down the toilet, if possible, and nothing is further from reality. Hard light hides a dramatic beauty that is very easy to surrender to.
For this reason, today I am going to dedicate this article so that you can learn a little more about this type of light. I want you to learn to love it and use it. Because diffused light is not always available, and because not all beauty is hidden behind it. Hard light has a lot to offer, to show and many feelings to awaken. Do you stay to meet her? Fantastic! Although before, seeing that you are interested in this topic, I want you to know this mega guide that we have prepared for you with all the information on lighting in photography.
What is hard light?
When we talk about light quality, we do not mean that the light is better or worse, as if it were the quality of shoes. But of its hardness or softness. The soft light It is characterized by enveloping the subject in a homogeneous and diffuse way. However, the hard light arrive on time to him.
Hard light causes a much sharper transition between shadows and highlights and also high contrast.
So that you can see it very clearly, it is best to give you an example so that you can check the difference between this and soft light.
You can see that in the first image, the shadows are much more pronounced, the change between shadow and light is much more abrupt, less subtle.
Does that mean one is better than the other? Not at all, the only thing it means is that they evoke different sensations. For this reason, the soft one may be better than the hard one for certain situations, or vice versa, precisely because of what they transmit. In this example itself, it is true that a soft light is more in keeping with the photo, but now, look at this image:
Do you think it would have worked with another type of light? Obviously not, the best thing about this image is, without a doubt, the light. In this case, the light allows shadows to be projected on the wall that accompany the young man. Also that the wall shines in this way, enlivening the yellow and showing its details. On a cloudy day, with diffused light, this photograph would not have been of any interest.
What transmits hard light?
While soft light tends to convey calmer sensations, such as tenderness, tranquility, peace, etc., hard light is much more dramatic. It is more related to mystery, to duality, to aggressiveness, to strength. This light is the best whenever you seek to awaken any of these emotions or reinforce a similar characteristic that the main subject or scene possesses.
What feelings does this portrait arouse in you? Not exactly cute, right?
The important thing is to know each type of light and to know how and when we can take advantage of it and get the most out of it.
How to get hard light?
Now comes the part where you wonder how hard light is achieved. Well, this depends on a light source that is close and small in relation to the subject in question. The smaller and closer it is to the protagonist, the harder it will be, the more marked the shadows will be.
Natural light
You have natural hard light when the sun is high in the sky and on very sunny days. You can also get it when it hits directly on a window. Like in this teapot example.
Artificial light
You can get it with a flash, a lamp, a light bulb, etc. The important thing is that it is a source small compared to the reason. For example, if you are shooting a miniature doll and you use a flash, it will not be as harsh a light as if you use it on a person.
It is also important that it is close to the main subject so that the shadows are so defined.
You can create your own lighting fixtures to help you achieve hard light. Here is an example:
Ok, yes, for this example you have to know how to sew, but… what about glue, and imagination?
How to measure this kind of light?
You already know, and if you don’t, I strongly recommend reading this article to get your bearings, that there are different modes of light measurement. We tend to use evaluative or center-weighted metering by default, however, when we find ourselves working in harsh light, the ideal is to make a spot metering.
The contrast between shadows and highlights is very strong, and that’s what we’re interested in, and with spot metering you can decide where to meter the light.
Photographs you can take with hard light
Hard light is more present than you think, sometimes you don’t have to look for it, but simply take advantage of it and not avoid it. Yes, it may happen that we do not know what to do with it, so I am going to leave you some ideas of photographs that you can achieve with this type of light and very clear examples. You will see how the next time you come across this light, instead of running away, putting away the camera or looking for a way to blur it, you will get the most out of it.
Draw with shadows
I think this is one of the most beautiful things you can do with hard light, shadow drawings. Here’s an example:
Arid, desert landscapes and beaches
The harsh light of midday is ideal for capturing the colors of the turquoise waters and bringing out the texture of the sand is also fantastic for conveying the aridity of the desert and bare landscapes.
Pictures
Using this type of light in a portrait is a great way to convey part of the personality of the subject, to give it a strength that it apparently does not have, or to add drama. You have a very comprehensive article on how to get hard light portraits here.
street-photography
Street photography is nourished by the stories of cities, how their streets interrelate with their people, how urban elements coexist with the rest of the city’s inhabitants, the stories that arise, the lives that hide or that shout here I am . Light is one more part of the equation, it is the term that helps you solve it.
low key
A small, close, well-aimed light source will help you achieve a low-key photograph. A technique with which you will achieve an impact, yes or yes.
Architecture
Shapes, volumes, textures, colors, details… are very important in architecture, use hard light to highlight and highlight them.
High contrast
High-contrast photos are those in which there is a large difference between the highlights and the shadows. As you can guess, hard light is a great ally of this type of photography.
highlight the color
Hard light, as I have told you, enlivens the colors, makes them brighter. A good time to capture colored facades or any other colorful element that comes to mind and that you are looking for to vibrate.
Sharp and bright colors
black and white with hard light
Throughout the article you have been able to observe that black and white favors photographs with hard light, here is another example, so that you do not say that we do not give you ideas or that we do not give enough examples 😉
With these resources, I’m sure you’re looking forward to trying out this light and its effects. Surely now you see it with different eyes, right?
And let’s do the hard light a favor, help me share this article so that more people take a liking to it, please ;). You have already known the benefits of it, let’s get others to know them too. Thanks and see you soon!