Hard light is that which originates from a single source aimed directly at the subject. The sun on a cloudless day is the most natural source of hard light. In an indoor or nighttime setting hard light would be from a naked light bulb or a flash light with nothing attached to it to disperse the light. Hard light produces a strong distinction between parts of the subject that are lit, and parts that are in dark shadow, with a clear delineation between the two areas. For example portraits lit from the side in this way show the subject half in light, half in shadow. Images of any subjects lit by hard light are welcomed.
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