CFP Forensic Photographer Evidence Preservation & Analysis 3

Question 1

Which file format is generally preferred for capturing examination-quality forensic images?

Accepted Answer

RAW or uncompressed formats that retain maximum unprocessed data

Answer

RAW or lossless formats preserve all sensor data without compression artifacts, which is critical for analysis and enhancement.

Question 2

During image enhancement of a latent fingerprint photograph, what must the analyst document?

Accepted Answer

Every processing step applied, so the enhancement is repeatable and defensible

Answer

SWGIT-style guidelines require a documented, repeatable processing history so any qualified person can reproduce the enhancement from the original.

Question 3

What is the correct use of a hash value (e.g., MD5 or SHA-256) in forensic image workflows?

Accepted Answer

Computed at acquisition and re-verified later to prove the file has not changed

Answer

A hash acts as a digital fingerprint; a matching value later proves the image is bit-for-bit identical to the original.

Question 4

A photographer must document tire impressions at night. Which lighting technique best reveals the tread detail?

Accepted Answer

Oblique (low-angle) lighting from a detached flash to create shadow contrast in the impression

Answer

Oblique lighting rakes across the impression, casting shadows that reveal three-dimensional tread detail direct flash would flatten.

Question 5

Why are overall, midrange, and close-up photographs all required when documenting an item of evidence?

Accepted Answer

Together they establish the item's location, its relationship to the scene, and its detail

Answer

The progressive series links the item's fine detail back to its precise position within the overall scene.

(CFP) Certified Forensic Photographer Practice Test