Hard or direct lighting increases contrast and form. This is a result of more sharply defined edges, and the creation of highlights and shadows. Depending on the direction of the light, texture and the illusion of depth in the picture space may be enhanced or diminished. This is because the scene or the subject is illuminated evenly, and provides for a subtler rendering of contrast, colour, form and texture. Another characteristic of light is direction.
Diffused light is indirect, appearing to come from every direction.
The soft quality of this light produces little or no shadow at all. The direction of hard or direct sunlight is dependent on the angle of the sun in the sky, and your camera position in relation to your subject. Front lighting is what the camera and film manufacturers once recommended for the best photography. This is when the sun is kept over your shoulder and shining directly onto your subject. This is probably the least effective use of direct sunlight as it reveals little in the way of form and texture.