Best approach for low key, high contrast portraits

I want to pursue a style of portraiture that is moody, with deep shadows and selective highlights...something akin to the "chiaro-scuro" technique from painters like Caravaggio. (see image for the effect I mean)

My question: What's the best exposure technique to achieve this effect? How should I approach exposure?

1. Expose "normally" - with all the shadow areas showing clear detail - the histogram will show minimum dark tone clipping, and normal highlights - and then achieve the effect in post processing... OR

2. Expose in camera as closely as possible to the end product I'm envisioning? - that is, the histogram will show heavy dark tone clipping, and light highlights.

I'd appreciate recommendations AND the why's too, kindly. Thanks in advance.

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If you were to be shooting positive film, you would "clip" dark, and expose for the light. With digital you want to get as much information from the dark area as possible, because you can "burn" them in post processing.

I would expose normally, and adjust in post processing. This way you ensure you get the most details and the least noise in your subject.

Mark

Try this, create a new layer (blank) and then paint bucket it a nice brown, or burnt orange. Now set blend mode to "Multiply" or perhaps "Overlay".

I am not at my own computer, so I cannot try this, so if it looks awful, sorry in advance.

Rad

Another though would be to deconstruct the Midnight Sepia action, and figure out how to run it WITHOUT the Gaussian Blur command. Search the forum for Midnight Sepia and see if the coloring (independent of the hazy quality) is near what you are looking for.

Rad

AND shoot RAW for the most control.