Crime Scene Photography Exam #1

Crime Scene Photography UCO Exam #1 Spring 2025

What should be your first photo in a scene?

Photo ID Card

When should transient/fragile items be photographed?

As soon as possible

How should all evidence items be documented photo wise?

In midrange and close-up shots

What are the three basic types of crime scene photographs?

• Overall

• Midrange

• Close-up

Why were photo logs more important with film cameras?

They were used to track every photo taken at the scene because film cameras had no kind of metadata from within the camera

Can a photo intended for evidence use be edited?

Not by the TI

What is an example of an inflammatory image from a scene?

An image of grieving relatives at a scene

What are the three legal challenges/questions in photography?

• Does the photograph accurately depict the scene?

• Is the photo free of distortion?

• Is the photo relevant?

What are the foundations for admissibility of a photo?

• Relevancy

• Must be material

Can a poorly composed photo be used in court?

Yes, as long as it meets the foundations of admissibility

What is metadata?

The details regarding the equipment used, exposure variables used, date, time, and occasionally location

What are the Greek words that photography comes from?

• Phos - Light

• Graphia - writing/drawing

What camera did forensic imaging start with?

Camera Obscura, first pinhole camera

When was the first photograph?

1826

Who took the first known photograph?

Joseph Niepce

What year did forensic imaging begin?

1867

What is the importance of Alphonse Bertillon?

• First to recognize importance of photographing a scene

• Standardized the mugshot

When was the mugshot standardized?

1888

When did the Supreme Court rule photographs as admissible evidence?

1859, followed by other courts

When did the FBI establish a forensic photography analysis unit?

1948

When was the International Association for Identification formed?

1915

What year did videotape begin to be used as evidence?

1967

When were standards set by the Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technologies for forensic imaging?

1998

What is the definition of composition?

The intentional choosing of the image’s elements

What are the three steps for good composition?

• Compose the scene/primary subject

• Determine proper exposure

• Focus the camera

What are the cardinal rules of good crime scene photography composition?

• Fill the frame

• Maximize depth of field

• Keep film plane parallel

Where should the primary subject be in the frame of the photgraph?

In the center

What should you do to maximize the depth of field?

Select the smallest aperture opening

What does it mean to keep the film plane parallel?

90 degrees to object, perpendicular to edges

What are the two main exceptions to keeping the film plane parallel?

• Reflective surface like a window or mirror

• Long object on the ground

Should your feet be in the photo?

No, along with hair, straps, and other people.

How many pictures should you take?

As many as you need

What is the minimum pictures needed for a room?

Six

What is the purpose of overall photographs?

They link the scene to the general surroundings

What perspective should overall and midrange photos be taken from?

A natural perspective

What is a natural perspective?

An eye-level perspective

What is the ideal first exterior overall photograph taken at the scene?

The intersection closest to the scene, ideally with the scene in the background

What points of entry should be photographed?

All points including, but not limited to, windows, doors, and garage doors

When should diagonal viewpoints be used?

Only when absolutely necessary

What are the first photos to be taken of a body?

Midrange photos that set the body to a fixed point of the scene.

How many photographs does the body panorama result in?

Six photos

What are the six photos that the body panorama results in?

• Each side of the body (4)

• Birdseye view

• Full-face photo

What angle should the full-face photo be taken from?

Straight on

What photographs should be taken of wounds?

• Midrange

  • Fixed to a spot on the body

• Close-up

  • As is

  • Fully labeled scale

What are the two types of photographs, other than the body panorama, to be taken of a body?

• Identifiers (tattoos, jewelry, etc.)

• Postmortem indicators

What is an altered close-up photo?

A photo of any crime scene item not in its original location, state, or condition

According to OK state law, who can touch/move a body at a crime scene?

The medical examiner

How does the scene have to be doumented?

As found, in its original state

How should midrange photos establish evidence?

By framing it with a fixed object to the scene

What shape should be formed when taking a midrange photo?

An isosceles triangle

When should a macro lens be used to take close-ups?

For items smaller than a textbook

What is the first close-up photo you should take?

As is

What is the second close-up photo that should be taken?

Item + Scale + Item number

What can be moved in a photo with an item, a scale, and an item number?

The scale and the item number

What plane should scales be placed on?

The same plane as the object