I had an almost out of world experience last night which finished with an epiphany and today it is my intention to share it with you today. As part of my research I was sure that I would find an appropriate meme and that was where I decided to start. My friends and I have often joked about the approach such programmes as CSI take the approaches they do when collecting evidence.

So I typed "csi looking in a dark room with a flashlight" and hit search.

My automated AI summary - which always appears first nowadays - was contrary to what I expected.

On TV shows like CSI, investigators always search dark rooms with flashlights for dramatic effect and visual mood. In real life, experts usually turn on the lights, but holding a light at an angle (oblique lighting) helps spot tiny clues like dust, footprints, or hair by creating shadows.

However, I read a bit further and saw that among other things it said -

In real life, experts usually turn on the lights, but holding a light at an angle (oblique lighting) helps spot tiny clues like dust, footprints, or hair by creating shadows.

Why They Do It on TV:

• Show style: Directors use beam lights to focus your eyes on a single clue.
• Mood: Dark rooms make the scene feel suspenseful and mysterious.

Real Forensic Reasons:

• Side lighting: Shining a light flat across a floor or table makes small bumps or drops stand out.
• Special filters: Some lights use UV or colored beams to find hidden fluids or fibers.
• Protecting the area: Avoiding light switches prevents ruining fresh fingerprints.

So to contextualise what I am saying. After our recent holiday Mama_Rah and the boys went to stay for a few days at her parents - the last chance for the boys to spend some time with their grandparents before going back to their respective nurseries and preschool. They are coming home today so naturally I wanted to clean up a bit.

So, yesterday evening I was running the vacuum cleaner over the floor. It is one of those that has lamps on the front which light up when the vacuum cleaner is on. I started in the living room and since I had the vaccum cleaner on anyway I decided - especially with it being cordless - to just run it through to the kitchen and one or two other places. I didn't have the lights on anywhere else in the flat.

There were bits of dust and other debris on the floor and with the shadowing - "Side lighting: Shining a light flat across a floor or table makes small bumps or drops stand out." (quoted from above) - I suddenly understood why they do this.

Even the smallest of particles of dust really stood out and were very clear to identify. In fact I was so impressed that I am thinking of vacuuming in the dark in the future.

So, there you have it. That is why the CSIs turn the lights off (or more to the point don't turn them on).

The photo in the header image is of my vacuum cleaner, turned on in a darkened room. The light has obscured most of the image, but look at how the texture of the carpet really stands out.

As always stay safe and well my friends.