Practice Exam: CRIM - Forensic Photography (Set 39)
30-question practice exam on crime scene photography, types of photographs, and photographic documentation.
1. Which type of photograph is taken from a distance to show the overall scene, including landmarks and the location's relationship to the surrounding area?
A.Mid-range photograph
B.Overview photograph
C.Close-up photograph
D.Establishing photograph
2. What is the primary purpose of a mid-range photograph at a crime scene?
A.To show the detail of a single piece of evidence.
B.To show the relationship between different pieces of evidence.
C.To document the entire scene from a bird's-eye view.
D.To capture the emotional state of witnesses.
3. A close-up photograph of a shell casing should always include what object for reference?
A.A coin
B.A scale or ruler
C.The investigator's badge
D.A written label
4. When taking a close-up photograph of a footprint in soil, what is the best practice after the initial shot?
A.Take another shot from a different angle.
B.Cast the footprint immediately.
C.Take a second photograph with a scale and at a 90-degree angle.
D.Mark the footprint with a cone.
5. An "establishing shot" is most similar to which type of crime scene photograph?
A.Close-up with scale
B.Mid-range
C.Overall or overview
D.Aerial photograph
6. In forensic photography, what camera setting is crucial for ensuring that both the foreground and background of a crime scene are in sharp focus?
A.A wide aperture (e.g., f/1.8)
B.A deep depth of field (e.g., f/11 or higher)
C.A fast shutter speed
D.A high ISO setting
7. What is the main reason for using a tripod in crime scene photography?
A.To make the camera look more professional.
B.To ensure sharpness and eliminate camera shake, especially in low light.
C.To quickly change lenses.
D.To hold external flash units.
8. The term "painting with light" in forensic photography refers to:
A.Using a soft brush to add color to black and white photos.
B.An exposure technique using a moving light source to illuminate a large, dark area.
C.Digitally altering a photograph to enhance brightness.
D.Projecting an image of the scene onto a wall.
9. Which lens is most appropriate for taking overview shots of a wide crime scene area without distorting perspective?
A.A telephoto lens
B.A normal or standard lens (e.g., 50mm)
C.A fisheye lens
D.A macro lens
10. When photographing a crime scene at night, what is the most critical piece of equipment besides the camera itself?
A.A polarizing filter
B.A powerful external flash and a tripod
C.A remote shutter release
D.A wide-angle lens
11. What is the primary rule when photographing a piece of evidence like a knife?
A.To photograph it only after it has been placed in an evidence bag.
B.To photograph it in its original location before it is moved.
C.To clean it before photographing to show details.
D.To photograph it from only one angle.
12. When photographing bloodstains, what technique helps to enhance visibility and detail, especially on dark surfaces?
A.Using a very fast shutter speed.
B.Using an oblique or side lighting technique.
C.Overexposing the photograph intentionally.
D.Converting the image to black and white.
13. A photograph of a bite mark on a victim should be taken:
A.With a wide-angle lens to show the surrounding area.
B.Perpendicular to the surface with an ABFO No. 2 scale.
C.After applying powder to enhance the mark.
D.From at least 5 feet away.
14. What is the purpose of creating a photographic log at a crime scene?
A.To count how many photographs were taken.
B.To maintain a detailed record of each photograph taken, including its description, location, and time.
C.To select the best photos for the final report.
D.To invoice the department for the cost of film or memory cards.
15. When photographing a serial number on a firearm, what is the main challenge a photographer must overcome?
A.The dark color of the firearm.
B.Reflections and glare from the metallic surface.
C.The small size of the numbers.
D.The presence of lubricating oil.
16. What is the "rule of three" in crime scene photography?
A.Take at least three photos of every room.
B.Document the scene with overview, mid-range, and close-up shots.
C.Use three different lenses for each piece of evidence.
D.Involve three investigators in the documentation process.
17. The principle of "fair and accurate representation" in court means the photograph must:
A.Be aesthetically pleasing and well-composed.
B.Not mislead the judge or jury about the scene or evidence.
C.Be printed on high-quality photographic paper.
D.Be taken by a sworn police officer.
18. Why is it a bad practice to delete any photos taken at a crime scene, even if they are blurry or poorly exposed?
A.It wastes memory card space.
B.It can lead to accusations of evidence tampering or spoliation.
C.It complicates the photo log.
D.The blurry photo might be artistically valuable.
19. A "photo placard" or marker at a crime scene is used to:
A.Indicate the direction of North.
B.Assign a unique number or letter to each piece of evidence being photographed.
C.Measure the size of the evidence.
D.Block unsightly background objects.
20. When submitting photographic evidence in court, what is the most important aspect to establish?
A.The cost of the camera used.
B.The chain of custody of the images.
C.The photographer's years of experience.
D.The brand of the memory card.
21. What does the term "lossless compression" mean in digital photography?
A.The image file is made smaller, but some data is permanently lost.
B.The image file is made smaller, but all original data can be fully restored.
C.The image is encrypted for security.
D.The image is automatically enhanced by the camera software.
22. Which file format is considered the "digital negative" and is preferred for forensic photography?
A.JPEG
B.GIF
C.RAW
D.PNG
23. The metadata of a digital photograph (EXIF data) is crucial because it:
A.Contains the GPS coordinates of the photographer's home.
B.Records the camera's settings, date, and time the photo was taken.
C.Includes the photographer's signature.
D.Automatically uploads the image to a secure cloud server.
24. What is the primary concern with using digital image enhancement software (like Photoshop) on forensic photographs?
A.The software is very expensive.
B.The potential for altering the evidence in a way that misrepresents the truth.
C.The software requires extensive training to use.
D.Enhanced images cannot be printed.
25. To ensure image integrity, a forensic photographer should do which of the following?
A.Use only one memory card for the entire year.
B.Work on a copy of the digital file, never the original.
C.Adjust the camera's date and time to match the time of the crime.
D.Email the photos to themselves for backup.
26. In the Bertillon system, what was the primary method of criminal identification?
A.DNA analysis
B.A detailed system of anatomical measurements, physical description, and photographs.
C.Fingerprinting.
D.Analysis of handwriting.
27. A proper mug shot consists of which two views?
A.A full-body shot and a close-up of the face.
B.A smiling profile and a neutral profile.
C.A frontal view and a right-side profile view.
D.A view with and without eyeglasses.
28. What is the main purpose of the lighting used in taking mug shots?
A.To create dramatic shadows.
B.To make the subject look as good as possible.
C.To provide flat, even illumination that clearly shows all facial features without shadows.
D.To replicate the lighting conditions of the crime.
29. A "rogues' gallery" refers to:
A.A police unit specializing in undercover operations.
B.A collection of mug shots used by witnesses to identify suspects.
C.The holding cell for the most dangerous criminals.
D.An informal name for the forensics lab.
30. In the context of photo identification, what is a "photographic lineup" or "six-pack"?
A.A folder containing six crime scene photos.
B.A set of photographs, including one of a suspect and several of non-suspects (fillers), shown to a witness.
C.Six different mug shots of the same suspect.
D.A lineup where suspects are viewed through a one-way mirror.