Soft light refers to light that tends to "wrap" around objects, casting diffuse shadows with soft edges. Soft light is when a light source is large relative to the subject, hard light is when the light source is small relative to the subject.
This depends mostly on the following two factors:
- Distance. The closer the light source, the softer it becomes.
- Size of light source. The larger the source, the softer it becomes.
The softness of a light source can also be determined by the angle between the illuminated object and the 'length' of the light source (the longest dimension that is perpendicular to the object being lit). The larger this angle is, the softer the light source.
Read more about Soft Light: Uses of Soft Light, Hard Light, Fall-off, Softness/hardness of Various Light Sources, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words soft and/or light:
“Though now in her old age, in her young age
She had been beautiful in that old way
That’s all but gone; for the proud heart is gone,
And the fool heart of the counting-house fears all
But soft beauty and indolent desire.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“We are born each morning, shelled upon
A sheet of light that paves
The palaces of sight, and brings again
The river shining through the field of graves.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)