An apparatus for direct optical capture of security-relevant objects such as at least skin prints and documents produces a contrast between skin ridges and skin valleys in direct optical sensors for capturing skin prints in the range of contrast of conventional systems with frustrated total internal reflection. A contrast enhancing layer is provided with one contrast shield associated with each light-sensitive element of the sensor layer. The associated contrast shield is arranged at a distance above the light-sensitive element and has a surface area at least as large as an active region of the light-sensitive element). The contrast shield is arranged at a distance above the light-sensitive element such that at least 60% of the active region is covered. The illumination layer has a plurality of point light sources which emit in direction of the placement surface in an angular area limited for preventing total internal reflection.