The object of this challenge is to produce a “Hard” image using hard light and a “Soft” image using soft light. Of course Hard versus Soft can also be subjective as in hard angular and soft rounded. This can become a very creative exercise using light and subject matter.
Here is a tutorial on soft versus hard lighting
this could be an example of hard light ? mid day with sharp shadows and bright colours
Experimenting with hard (harsh) studio lighting and wide angle (14mm)
soft light with very shallow depth of field
ISO 100 105mm f3.3 1/250
Experimenting with soft light in a translucent white light box lit from the top. Taken with a 14 to 35 mm zoom lens at 24 mm. f/14, 1/20 sec, ISO 1000. Run through Topaz denoise.
Playing with colour temperature and balance
The first one looks much softer to me
I really like this one
I meant the first one…
My attempt at soft lighting with dark bokeh. Short at Bridlewood in AP at 400 FL, F8, S1/100, ISO 320, Auto WB,
My attempt at hard lighting. Full on the flower, making the butterfly’s wings translucent. Shot in AP, Focal Length 400, F6.3, S 1/800, ISO 320, Auto WB, Matrix Metering.
Hard lighting – full sun on a vase of Nanking cherries in our backyard
ISO 100, 22 mm, f/10, 1/160 s
Same shot a few hours later when the clouds rolled in
ISO 400, 22 mm, f/5.6, 1/50 s
Two soft light taken with my phone, the first is our dog Molly showing off her close facial haircut due to a skunk encounter.
This second one was taken in Beddington off-lead park. Wild Rose Country.
I went to Griffith Woods looking for inspiration. This is my ‘soft’ choice when the sky was clouded
Taken with cell phone
and this one when the sun was shinning
This is a shot from Reader Rock Garden, taken mid morning in fairly strong morning light. I like the contrast of the hard pathway with the soft vegetation, as well as the contrast between the strong backlight and the softer shaded light in the foreground.
Shot with a 30mm at ISO 450, f/13 at 1/80 sec.
This is one from the butterfly garden in the Enmax conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. I chose this one because of the sharp contrast between the fragile butterfly and the hard surfaced bench it’s perched on, and its bright coloring against the muted shadows in the background. Shot at 120mm, ISO125, f/8 at 1/60 sec.
My attempt at soft lighting. This was an audience member watching the main stage performance in the vending. There was actually some sun that lit up her face. This crop was intentional.
1/1000 sec @f4.0, ISO 1250
Edited in Lightroom
cell phone f2.4 1/120 iso40
Raindrops on Parsley Soft yet Bright lighting yesterday when the rain finally stopped
image levels adjusted slightly in Photoshop
Shadows on the wall
combo of Hard (the green leaves) and Soft lighting (the soft focus shadows) the bird is a decal on my window
S23 cell phone f2.2 1/330 iso50
levels and sharpness tweaked in Photoshop
Feet dipped in lake mud. 1/125 sec.; F/22; ISO 250 @ 35 mm
Soft lighting with no post processing. f4@1/400, iso 200, +.7 exp comp, 85 mm. Comox, or thereabout, BC.
Hard lighting, mountaintop in lake O’Hara. f10@1/640, iso 250 86mm on a 24-120 zoom. No post processing.
Hard lighting, mountaintop in lake O’Hara. f10@1/640, iso 250 86mm on a 24-120 zoom. Minimal processing.
Hard lighting, mountaintop in lake O’Hara. f10@1/640, iso 250 86mm on a 24-120 zoom.
Sunset over Lac Ste Anne. 1/1000; F/8; ISO 200 at 16 mm