• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

DIGITAL PHOTO MENTOR

Photography tips, tutorials and guides for Beginner and Intermediate Photographers.

  • Start Here
  • Photography Basics
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Free Photography Basics for Beginners Course
  • Photography Articles
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Photography Challenges
    • Photography Tips
      • Portrait Photography
        • Flash Photography
      • Night Photography
      • Street Photography
      • Photo Editing
      • Landscape Photography
      • Macro Photography
      • Photoshop Tutorials
      • Photography Equipment
  • Online Courses
    • Luminar Neo Course
    • Lightroom for Photographers: The Complete Course
    • Photoshop For Photographers: The Complete Course
    • Portrait Fundamentals
  • Private Tutoring
  • Store
    • Online Courses
    • Bokeh Overlays
    • Sky Replacements
    • Texture Backgrounds
    • Lightroom Presets
    • Private Tutoring
    • Cart
  • Login
  • Photography Basics
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Free Photography Basics for Beginners Course
  • Photography Challenges
    • Photography Challenges E-Book
    • 5-Day Photo Editing Challenge
    • All Our Photography Challenges
  • Photography Tips
    • Portrait Photography
      • Free Portrait Photography Key Concepts Course
      • Flash Photography
    • Night Photography
    • Street Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Landscape Photography
    • Macro Photography
    • Photography Equipment
  • Photo Editing
    • Luminar
    • Learn How to Use Lightroom Classic – Online Course
    • Photoshop Tutorials
  • Gallery
  • Resources
    • Free Basics for Beginners Course
    • Free Portrait Photography for Beginners Course
    • Lightroom Presets
    • Texture Pack for Photoshop, Luminar
    • Webinars
    • YouTube Channel
Home » Photography Tips » What is Quality of Light and How to Use it
What is Quality of Light and How to Use it to Take Better Photos

What is Quality of Light and How to Use it to Take Better Photos

by Darlene Hildebrandt | Last Updated: November 24, 2020

Share62
Tweet
Pin109
WhatsApp
Email

Finding the elusive good light

You may have heard the term quality of light before, but do you know what that really means and how do you go about finding the highly elusive good light so many photographers talk about?

In this article, I’m going to explain a few terms and give you some tips on how to find the right light including:

  • Hard versus soft lighting
  • What situation creates each kind of lighting and how to identify them
  • When to use each type of lighting
  • How to find good light at any time of the day
quality of light - hard lighting sunset
Sunrise and sunset are favorite times of the day for landscape photographers because of the quality of light.

Quality of light

Quantity of light is how much light is present in a given scene. But what is the quality of light?

As in most things, quantity is how much or how many, and quality is how good it is. So how do you measure whether the light is good or not?

Here is a basic definition: the quality of light is defined by the size of the light source relative to the subject.

What that means in real terms is that a small light source will produce hard lighting.

If you have a large light source the light will be soft, however, it is also affected by the distance of the light source to the subject. If it is close to the subject, it is proportionally large compared to their face. But if you move it back away from the subject quite a distance then it changes the relative size of the light.

This type of light modifier can be used to soften the light by making it larger. ONLY by enlarging your light source can you soften it.

I’ll give you an example. The sun is a giant burning ball of fire approximately 1.4 million kilometres (864,000 miles) in diameter. That’s large! However, when we look at it from here it appears very small in the sky (size of a quarter) because of our relative distance from the sun.

So the sun is actually a small light source. Does that make sense?

Hard or harsh lighting

Hard lighting is created by small light sources such as:

  • The sun (as you learned above it is a small light source)
  • A bare lightbulb
  • A candle
  • A flashlight
  • The small flash on your camera (yes even if you take if off the camera the flash itself without any modifiers is a small light source).

quality of light - hard light has strong shadows and high contrast

Hard light is characterized by strong, well-defined shadows and a high degree of contrast. With hard light, you will notice deep, dark shadows, and bright, sometimes overblown highlights or whites.

People photographed in hard light will often squint and have harsh unflattering shadows on their faces. This is not usually desirable.

Hard lighting – look for strong shadows and high contrast

quality of light - hard light has strong shadows and high contrast

An example of hard light used for a fashion-style shoot. Image by Loudia Laarman

Soft or diffused lighting

Soft lighting is creating by large light sources such as:

  • The sky on an overcast or on a really cloudy day (then the sun isn’t the light source anymore it’s the entire sky which is much larger proportionally from where we stand).
  • Large studio lights like softboxes (hence the name!) used by portrait and studio photographers.
  • A large white reflector used to bounce light (a 42″ one is a large light source when placed close to the subject).
  • Light from a small speedlight or flash bounced off of a wall, ceiling, reflector, or through an umbrella (only when you bounce or diffuse the light from your speedlight does it become softer).
  • Window-light from a north-facing window or one which does not receive direct sunlight.
  • Light from an open sky such as when the subject is in a doorway or covered area (out of the sun) and the light comes from the sky opposite the sun.

quality of light - soft light has weak or no shadows and low contrastSoft light is the opposite of hard light and is characterized by soft or not easily defined shadows, and low contrast.

In soft light, you may not even be able to distinguish where the shadows fall or if there are any. People photographed in soft light have fewer and/or softer shadows and do not have to squint.

Note: Even in soft light you still need to consider the direction of light because if you use the sky on an overcast day the shadows will fall under the eyebrows and the person will have dark eyes.

Soft light – look for weak or no shadows and low contrast quality of light - soft light has weak or no shadows and low contrast

Which type of light is best?

The answer to which type of lighting to use is that there is no right or wrong, and it depends on what look you want to create within your image.

If you want more drama and to emphasize character and texture, then you will want to use hard lighting.

Hard light and dramatic shadows go together. 

If you want to emphasize a softer mood or flatter a portrait subject you will want to use soft lighting.

Here are some examples. Can you see which type of lighting is being used in each image and if it is appropriate for the scene and the desired result?

quality of light
Soft light adds to the feel of gentleness and softness in this image
Hard lighting - emphasizes texture in their fur and adds to the drama of the image.
Hard lighting – emphasizes texture in their fur and adds to the drama of the image.
quality of light
Soft lighting adds to the sense of mystery surrounding this place (Machu Picchu).
quality of light
Hard light creates long shadows and emphasizes texture in the sand in this image.

Quality of light for people photography

Quality of light is just as applicable to the photography of people as well. While no hard and fast rule applies that says “always do this” for portraits – it is generally more flattering for your subject to use soft light.

Soft light is better for group portraits.

Hard light will accentuate everything by adding contrast. That means wrinkles, lines, pores, blemishes, scars, bumps, etc. all the things that most people do not want to be enhanced, will be emphasized.

Your spouse or significant other would probably prefer not to showcase those things. So if you are photographing a friend or spouse, and you want them to continue to like you, then consider soft lighting.

However, if you are photographing a grizzled old man and want to emphasize his wrinkles, then hard light would be desired. For any subject where you want to add character and drama, then hard light is a better choice. Punk rockers with a skateboard – then try using hard lighting.

quality of light - people
Hard lighting brings out the texture and character of this cowboy.
quality of light - people
Hard light makes this more moody and dramatic

You can find soft light by getting out of the sun and into the shade, an open doorway (using the light coming in), or by using something to block the sun or harsh lighting (reflector). Many photographers do portraits in the magic or golden hours (about 60 minutes before dusk or after sunrise) as the light is low on the horizon and is much warmer and softer.

Here are a few more examples.

quality of light - people
The same model in soft light shows a gentler side, more flattering as a portrait.
quality of light - people
Soft light on this lovely sheepherder lady flatters her soft and shy smile.
quality of light - people
Harder lighting on this portrait shows her character and adds strength.
quality of light - people
Soft lighting in general, more widely used for most portraits
quality of light - people
Soft lighting – less drama, interest.
quality of light - people
Harder lighting on the same gentleman adds to a sense of his age and adds depth.

ACTION PLAN

To sum all this up, I’m going to ask you a few questions. Please share in the comments what you plan to do?

  • What did you learn from this article?
  • What do you want to learn next?
  • Do you prefer reading books, articles, and websites? How about a virtual tutoring lesson or an online class?

If you have a hard time finding good light, especially at midday, here is a good exercise for you to do: Create Good Images at Midday – Photography Challenge

Cheers,
Darlene-1-250x130.png

 
Share62
Tweet
Pin109
WhatsApp
Email

About Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene is an educator who teaches aspiring amateurs and hobbyists how to improve their skills through her articles here on Digital Photo Mentor, her beginner photography course, and private tutoring lessons. To help you at whatever level you're at she has two email mini-courses. Sign up for her free beginner OR portrait photography email mini-course. Or get both, no charge!

ultimate photography bundle

There’s NEVER been a better time to get Luminar Neo. With this Ultimate Photography Bundle promotion, you recieve the Luminar Neo software, hundreds of LUT’s, Skies, presets and overlays, a Landscape Photography editing course, a Drone photography course and my very own Portrait Fundamentals course, along with a number of other items.

Click here to Get $1019 worth of photography software and courses for an 85% savings.

Digital Photo Mentor is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate Digital Photo Mentor earns from qualifying purchases.
ultimate photography bundle

Ultimate Photography Bundle

There's NEVER been a better time to get Luminar Neo. With this Ultimate Photography Bundle promotion, you recieve the Luminar Neo software, hundreds of LUT's, Skies, presets and overlays, a Landscape Photography editing course, a Drone photography course and my very own Portrait Fundamentals course, along with a number of other items.

Get $1019 worth of photography software and courses for an 85% savings.

Click Here to Purchase

Top Beginner Articles

  • Avoid these 9 beginner photography mistakes
  • 7 Tips for Beginner Photographers
  • Top 15 Photography Accessories under $25
  • How to choose the best digital camera for you
  • 5 Photography Ideas for When There's Nothing Interesting to Shoot
  • 5 mistakes beginner photographers make while using a wide angle lens and how to avoid them
  • 9 Tripod Mistakes Ruining Your Images and Putting Your Camera at Risk
  • Long Exposure Photography

Top Intermediate Articles

  • 10 Camera Settings and Equipment Tips for Portrait Photography
  • Best Photo Editing Software Reviewed
  • Lightroom Alternative: Is Luminar the answer?
  • Top 15 Photography Accessories under $25
  • How to Use a Gray Card for Custom White Balance and Metering
  • Night Photography Settings – Guide to Getting the Best Exposure

Learn Photography Basics

Yes, you can learn to take better photos! It’s my passion to help you learn the photography basics and take better pictures. It’s also the same reason I teach workshops, do photo travel tours, and have online photography courses available.

Enroll in our free photography basics for beginners course, or 12-part portrait photography course, also free.

Recent Photography Articles

  • Stunning Night Photo Edits With Luminar Neo
  • Six ways to make your travel photography stand out
  • Why Street Photography Is So Difficult And How To Overcome It
  • Review of Sigma’s 56mm F/1.4 Lens – Is It Worth It?
  • How To Create Stunning Old-Style Hollywood Black-and-White Glamour Portraits

Useful Links

  • Beginner Photography
  • Intermediate Photography
  • Photography Challenges
  • Photography Tips
  • Photo Editing
  • Resources
  • Recommended Amazon Products
  • Course Login
  • Workshops
  • Webinars
  • Contact
  • Write for Us

Copyright © 2023 Digital Photo Mentor · Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy · Disclaimer