Today’s post is for Project 52, a weekly blog project that I am working on with several other talented photographers.  In this project, we concentrate on light and spend several weeks exploring an overarching theme.  Beginning today, we will embark on our third theme, hard light.  Hard light is when the light source is small compared with the subject (or, in the case of full sun, at a great distance away, resulting in the same effect) – that is, it is harsh, as compared with soft, diffuse light (which tends to be easier light to use for taking photos).  When the light source is small, it generally causes noticeable shadows, which can bring out texture or other dramatic effects.  Here is my first play on hard light:

This picture was taken when we were celebrating the girls’ birthdays after returning to Seattle.  I would have included a picture of Alexa, but she decided to grab the candle, so no dramatic pictures could be taken.  That was dramatic enough, really.  Fear not, though, she was not burned and she thoroughly enjoyed her cupcake.

Please continue along in our creative blog circle to see the beautiful work of Julie Kiernan.  Click HERE to see Julie’s creative play on backlighting.