Hard Light Hard light casts a sharp, clearly defined shadow. When hard light is used to illuminate a face, imperfections in the skin stand out. The result is less than flattering. Soft light makes skin imperfections and facial shadows less noticeable. A skylight is an example of a soft light.
Photographers use reverse umbrellas to soften brightness.
Even with soft light, it is important to take stock of where your light is coming from. If the only source of light is directly overhead, shad- shadows will fall on faces, creating undesirable effects such as dark eye sockets. Brightness and Contrast Contrast in brightness enables our eyes to distinguish shapes, edges and details on the surface of objects. The more contrast between one area and another, the better we see. Angle of Light Most videoconferencing rooms are probably set-up with lighting similar to one of the below diagrams.