Question about Hard Light and Skin Defects

After I published Rachel’s question two days ago a few people asked me why the direct light emphasizes skin defects and if it’s always the case.

I will illustrate it with the help of those lovely camel pictures during sunny (lead picture) and cloudy (picture below) weather. Hard light has all the beams coming from the same angle so anything on the skin would cast a sharp dark shadow. The shadow will only disappear if the light comes directly from above, but if it’s from above for one part of the picture, it will be from an angle for all other parts.

In soft light all beams come from a different angle so there is no defined shadow:

That’s why the defects on the skin (especially if they are the same color as the skin too) are less seen when you use soft natural or studio light.

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