Dimming Watts Via a Dimmer...

[Alex]

Dimmers can be very handy when lighting.

[Actor]

In what way?

[Alex]

Dimmers allow for fine-tuning of a light by simply using the dimmer to either raise or lower the light level.

This can be very handy when the distance between the light and subject cannot be easily changed. While the color temperature will usually change as the light is dimmed, the advantages of using dimmers usually outweigh such issues.

It's much easier to turn a 500 watt light into a 250 watt light by dimming rather than letting the light cool down and replacing it.

A conservative approach is to use the dimmer on the back light. This allows for setting the ideal amount of light for the desired back light effect, such as creating the proper hair highlights.

Dimmers can sometimes cause the light to strobe, so you do need to watch for that phenonmenom. Overall, carrying at least one dimmer in your lighting kit is a wise move.