Which of the following describes how hard light is typically produced?

The option stating that hard light is typically produced by direct, strong light sources is indeed accurate. Hard light results from light that emanates directly from a powerful source without significant diffusion or modification. This results in sharp shadows and high contrast, which are characteristic of hard lighting. Examples of direct light sources include the sun on a clear day or a bare bulb.

The other options describe methods of light manipulation or types of light that produce different effects. For instance, dispersive filters are used to break light into various colors rather than creating hard light. Wide aperture settings generally allow more light in and can lead to softer light through depth-of-field effects, but they do not produce hard light on their own. Similarly, using reflected surfaces tends to soften light by bouncing it off other surfaces, thus creating softer and more diffused lighting effects.