Whats a good way to usually underexpose key at night. I understand it depends on what the scene calls for, etc. etc. But I'm talking abotu a basic scene, one in which all the practicals are off and its night. I could motivate sodium vapor from a street lamp onr moonlight through windows and such but would a stop in a half be a safe way to make the key on the face feel like night and let the darker areas go more like 2 1/2 stops. I was also thinking the same for EXT. scenes in the woods or areas not lit by lamps.
I understand when I want an extreme like a silhoutte, a blackout effect, or an extreme hot spot but its that middle ground that I just don't know what would be best. I assume when I went something dark at key or bright but not distracting a stop and a half would be good. Because 4 stops I'm losing detail, 3 would be for blackout/silhoutte extreme hotspot, 2 could work, but 1 1/2 lets me save more detail for post.
If anyone has some feedback that would be great.
THANKS