Exercise - Softening the light

2013.03.24.SofteningTheLight (1)
f/11  1/15  ISO-200



2013.03.24.SofteningTheLight (2)
f/11  1/8  ISO-200

The first image was taken with a naked tungsten light source, and the second with the use of an umbrella to diffuse the light.  Image (1) has larger, hard, dark shadows.  Softening the light with a diffuser, the shadows are reduced and are much lighter in tone.  The image with naked lighting shows hard contrast.  As well as lightening the shadows, the diffuser also lightens the highlights.  This is most evident on the two shells in the bottoms corners, with more colour, and the turtle in the top right of the frame.
I would say that in this instance, that the diffusion was an improvement.  However, in some circumstances a hard contrast may be part of the desired effect.