An example of hard light is bright sunshine which is direct and creates harsh shadows. Another example is an on-camera flash unit. Hard light can create an image with washed out details.
Soft light is indirect or diffused and an example of this is a cloudy bright day. The cloud layer evens out the sunlight and acts as a huge diffuser. This is the pleasing quality of light create great portraits. Studio photographers spend lots of money buying all sorts of equipment in an effort to put soft light on their models.
When it comes to light sometime you have to take what you get. But you can learn to manipulate light. There are several ways to soften light. Bouncing light off a white ceiling causes the light to reflect and soften. There is a reason the ceilings in most homes and offices are white is that this helps brightens the room.
The Dutch Master painters of the1600s such as Rembrandt and Vermeer appreciated the quality of soft light. What was their preferred light source? These painters loved a window that faced the North, because the light that enters a Northern exposure is indirect and diffused. Take a look at the portraits painted by Rembrandt and you will see fine examples soft lighting.
An easy way to bounce light is to use the ceiling or a wall. Just make sure the surface is a light color. I have also done a lot using a white piece of poster board which cost about a dollar. Photo equipment manufacturers such as Photoflex and Lastolite sell folding reflector disks that can he used to alter light. I have one with white, silver and gold surfaces. The gold adds a bit of a warm tone.
Another way to obtain soft light is to place a sheer cloth between the light source and the subject. Draperies, curtains and tents can provide a useful diffusion of hard light. Photoflex and other companies sell translucent disks for softening harsh light.
Another great item especially when it comes to product photography is a light tent. Light tents help you get soft even light on the subject while also reducing reflections. There are all shapes and sizes and most are collapsible. Cloud Dome offers a kit that includes fluorescent lights and a background. The whole thing folds flat so it can be taken on location.
As a photographer in search of soft light you can wait for a cloudy day or use Northern exposure of employ some equipment to modify the light to your demands.
Good comments.
ReplyDeleteHow do I achieve a "halo-light" pover the back of the head of the model in out door conditions? I have seen portraits with what appears as a backlight over the head 0 how is that achieved without use of external parapernalia except a flash?
I can seend you a photo as an illustration taken by my now deceased father-in-law of my wife.
Please let me have your comments.
Finn Olander
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThe use of backlight can make a very nice portrait. Here is what you do:
Place the subject so that the sun is behind them. People like this because then they are are looking right into the sun and squinting. The light spilling over on the subject's shoulder helps separate them from the background and add a sense of depth. This light coming from behind also add some pizazz to their hair.
However, setting the shot up this way means the photographer is shooting into the sun. So the use of a flash can put some more light on the subjects face. The flash does not need to be at full power. Even a bounced flash can be enough to make a pleasing portrait. Also it may useful to have sunshade on your lens to keep direct sunlight from hitting the lens and creating a flare.
Try it and experiment a little bit.