Crime Scene Photography

Question 1

What is a photo identifier?

Answer 1

The first photo taken which states:

• case number -address/location
• date/time -the photographer name

Question 2

What is a labeled scale?

Answer 2

A scale that contains the info from the photo identifier

Question 3

Where should a scale be positioned?

Answer 3

They should be in the same plane as the evidence.

Question 4

Why is it important to have a scale in the same plane as the eveidence?

Answer 4

Because if it isn’t the image will show a skewed measurement.

Question 5

What does fill the frame mean?

Answer 5

make the primary subject as large as possible

Question 6

What should be avoided to have good photo composition?

Answer 6

• clutter
• unnecessary detail
• distractions in image

Question 7

How do you clear unnecessary foreground elements?

Answer 7

tilt the camera up

Question 8

How do you clear unnecessary background elements?

Answer 8

tilt the camera down

Question 9

How do you eliminate distractions on the left and right of a photo?

Answer 9

Switch to a vertical photograph

Question 10

How do you avoid shadows?

Answer 10

block the sun with your body or another person

Question 11

What is a flash shadow?

Answer 11

a shadow made from the camera flash

Question 12

What is a hard shadow?

Answer 12

flash produced shadows that are so dark detail cannot be seen in shadowed area

Question 13

What is a soft shadow?

Answer 13

the shadow is still present but details can be seen in the shadowed area

Question 14

What is lens flare?

Answer 14

when the sun is positioned in front of the photographer and sunlight is coming directly into the lens and reflecting

Question 15

What is a lens hood?

Answer 15

an attachment for the camera that blocks the sun rays

Question 16

What is natural perspective?

Answer 16

photographer is standing at full, natural height, viewing the scene or area as anyone would have seen it if they were standing there too

Question 17

What is aerial photography?

Answer 17

images captured while standing on bridges or buildings while looking down at crime scene below

Question 18

What should be done if the subjects exit path is found?

Answer 18

the path should be photographed and followed as it might lead to dropped evidence

Question 19

What should be done after exterior overall photos?

Answer 19

document all paths from doors and windows towards areas within the structure where items have been disturbed

Question 20

What is considered “normal” focal length?

Answer 20

50mm

Question 21

What is an extension tube?

Answer 21

a supplemental lens that fits between the camera body and normal lens

Question 22

How many close-ups should you take for each piece of evidence?

Answer 22

at least 2

One without scale and one with a fully labeled scale

Question 23

What steps should be taken when photographing a wound/bruise?

Answer 23

Take a midrange of the body part where the wound/bruise is and then take 2 close ups one with and without scale.

Question 24

How do you photograph a body?

Answer 24

Photograph the body from all 4 sides (heel to crown, crown to heel, right, and left sides)
5th photo taken is of the full face

Question 25

What should your lens setting (focal length) be for a face photograph?

Answer 25

100-120 mm and keep camera back to avoid enlarging the facial features

Question 26

What is depth of field (DOF)?

Answer 26

the variable range from foreground to background, of what appears to in sharp focus

Question 27

What F/stop setting provide the best DOF?

Answer 27

F/stops with smallest aperture

Question 28

What lens (focal length) has the best DOF?

Answer 28

wide angle lens

Question 29

How does distance from camera to subject effect DOF?

Answer 29

camera farther- longer DOF

camera closer- shorter DOF

Question 30

If the light is bright should your aperture be small or large?

Answer 30

bright light=smaller opening

darker light= larger opening

Question 31

How is aperture denoted?

Answer 31

f/stop numbers

Question 32

What does f/stop refer to?

Answer 32

the intensity of light striking the film surface NOT a specific diameter of lens aperture opening

Question 33

Which aperture setting is a larger opening, f/32 or f/1.8?

Answer 33

f/1.8

the smaller the f/stop number the larger the opening

Question 34

What is shutter speed?

Answer 34

the length of time light passes through the lens to strike the film

Question 35

Which shutter speed is faster, 1/250th or 1/60th?

Answer 35

1/250th because it is a smaller number

Question 36

What denotes film speed?

Answer 36

ISO number

Question 37

If the ISO is higher how does that effect film sensitivity?

Answer 37

The film will be more sensitive to light

Question 38

What would be the best ISO setting on a sunny day?

Answer 38

100

Question 39

What would be the best ISO setting for nighttime or indoors?

Answer 39

400

Question 40

What 3 things effect DOF?

Answer 40

focal length
aperture
distance from object

Question 41

What does it mean to bracket an image?

Answer 41

To take a properly exposed photo and then 2 subsequent photos from the same POV but 1 is intentionally overexposed and 1 is intentionally underexposed

Question 42

Why would you bracket an image?

Answer 42

1) lighting at scene may be problematic and exposure might not be “proper”
2) when the subject is candidate for examination quality image

Question 43

What types of flash lighting can be used?

Answer 43

Bounced
direct
diffused