Portrait photographers spend a lot of time working on creating flattering light, and in photography terms, that almost always equates to soft light. However, hard light can be just as effective, particularly if you want to add a bit of drama or want to accent certain elements of your image. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to use three different hard lighting setups, including a gridded reflector, Fresnel lens, and parabolic umbrella.
Coming to you from John Gress, this awesome video tutorial will show you how to use three different hard lighting setups, including a gridded reflector, a parabolic umbrella, and a Fresnel lens. No doubt, the majority of us will light most of our portraits using large, soft sources, as these tend to be more flattering on a subject's features, but that does not mean hard light should never be used. In fact, hard light can add the sort of punch, angularity, and contrast that really makes an image stand out. While you probably will not use it as much as softer light, having it in your skill set will make you far more versatile and only expand your creative palette. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Gress.
