Underexposure?

[Nick Keller]

Just recently finished up on a 16mm project this weekend on 7218. I had a scene where the actor walked into a room lit only by one practical. The idea was just this one practical was giving off the light to the room. So when he came into the light to do the scene I had him exposed at key. But my fill or really my ambience level was 2 1/2 stops under (trying to mimic as if the light fell off further away from the lamp). So when he walks through he's 2 1/2 stops under for a bit and then comes to his key.

 

Just wondering if 2 1/2 is too much (I thought 3 under was to much and 2 wasn't enough so I split the difference). I'm not so worried because I want it to be dark in those moments and then he is properly lit by the practical.

[Michael Nash]

You should have enough exposure to see detail in the face at 2-1/2 stops under, although it will be dark. The degree of "darkness" that's acceptable to you is a matter of taste, but on a technical level you will have information on the negative at -2 1/2 stops.