Stronger Units

[4knewave]

If you use a stronger unit from the same angle as if you were using a smaller unit (example rather then a 650 from the side a 2k) does it flatten the image? Coming from the same angle I dont see it doing that and assume you can get at a better stop on the lens with the extra exposure. Just may take some scrims and extra flagging to cut spill.

 

[David Mullen ASC]

No, if you use a brighter light from the same position and stop down to compensate, the contrast does not get flatter.

If anything, sometimes the problem with working at higher light levels is that you are overpowering some natural ambient fill from available light in the room. At really low levels using a very dim key light, sometimes it's hard to get enough contrast because so much natural ambience in the room is filling in the shadows.

But in theory, brighter lights do not flatten the image.