Basics of motion picture lighting

Lighting is an essential tool for enhancing the video image. The subtle use of light creates atmosphere and mood, dimension, and texture. It can help to convey a plot line, enhance key elements such as set color or skin tone, and signals the difference between comedy and drama, reality and fantasy.

Lighting 

Hard
This is where the lighting is very sharp and creates distinct shadows. examples of hard lighting, sun,  incandescent, ellipsoidal, and quartz. Example in images: 


This shot is very well lit, the composition perfect because the lighting is almost perfectly even on her face with very hard shadows behind her.



This shows the shadows that the sun can create however they do not look as professional and the lighting dose't appear even at all on the boys face compared to the first shot. This image doesn't show a controlled lighting environment.

Soft lighting
This is where softer less harsh lamps are used to create softer shadows and less background images.


This is an example of soft light, where the background has minimal to no shadow and the girls face is soft and smooth. This an example of  a well shot image that looks smooth and professional, with controlled lighting.


Tis is another example of soft lighting. However this is well lighted, I don't think this looks as soft or even as the first image. the lighting is different in all areas of the image, however there are no shadows which adds to the image and makes it look as though a soft light was used.