MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

Which photograph is NOT considered one of the mandatory types to take at a crime scene?

1. Overview

2. Close-ups with scale

3. Midrange

4. Shadow Cast

The correct answer is: Shadow Cast

In crime scene photography, there are specific types of photographs that are considered essential for thorough documentation. The mandatory types include overview, close-ups with scale, and midrange photographs. Overview photographs are taken from a distance to capture the entire crime scene and its surroundings. They help in understanding the context and layout of the scene. Close-up photographs with scale are crucial for providing detailed views of evidence, often including a measuring device to indicate size. Midrange photographs serve as a bridge between overview and close-up images; they show the evidence in relation to its immediate environment, helping to place it contextually within the scene. Shadow cast photographs, while they can be helpful in certain contexts (like demonstrating the presence of shadows in relation to specific light sources), are not mandatory types of photographs at crime scenes. They do not fall into the essential categories that standard crime scene protocols dictate. Therefore, identifying shadow cast photographs as not being one of the required types aligns with established procedures for crime scene documentation.