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Photography vocabulary · Light & Lighting

Hard light

Meaning in photography, with examples

nounCommon term

In photography, hard light means: Light from a small or distant source, such as the midday sun or a bare flash, that creates sharp-edged shadows and strong contrast.

In Turkish: sert ışık

How it is used

Often called harsh light when it is unflattering, but used on purpose in fashion and dramatic portraits. Photographers soften hard light with a diffuser or softbox, or by moving the subject into the shade.

Example sentences

  1. The hard light at noon is giving everyone dark shadows under their eyes.

  2. For this fashion story we want hard light and crisp shadows.

Common collocations

  • harsh light
  • hard light source
  • hard light and shadows
  • midday hard light
  • soft lightLight from a large or diffused source, such as a cloudy sky, a window or a softbox, that creates gentle shadows and smooth transitions.
  • contrastThe difference between the light and dark areas of an image. High contrast has deep blacks and bright whites; low contrast looks flatter and softer.
  • softboxA box-shaped light modifier with a white, translucent front that fits over a flash or lamp to spread its light and make it softer.
  • natural lightLight that comes from the sun or the sky, including light through a window, rather than from flashes or lamps.

More terms: Light & Lighting

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