POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Summarize the Historical development of Photography
• Appreciate the significance of photography in the field of Law
Enforcement
• Identify and explain the purpose of the basic types of crime scene
photographs.
• Identify and explain four recurring problems associated to crime
scene photography
• Identify the four elements of crime scene documentation
POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY
is an art or science that deals with
the study of the principles of
photography, the preparation of the
photographic evidence, and its
application to police work.
Forensic Photography

The art or science of

photographically documenting a
crime scene and evidence for
laboratory examination and
analysis for purposes of court
trial.
Photography Defined
-It is an art or science which deals
with the reproduction of images
through the action of light, upon
sensitized materials (film or paper)
with the aid of a camera and
accessories and the chemical
processes involved therein.
PHOTOGRAPH
from the Greek word which
means:
- photos means light
- graphia means to draw
PRINCIPLES OF
PHOTOGRAPHY
• Photograph is both the mechanical and
chemical result of photography.
• To produce a photograph, light is needed
aside from sensitized materials (film or
paper).
• Light radiated or reflected by the subject
must reach the film while all other lights are
exclude by placing the film inside a light
tight box (camera).
PRINCIPLES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Continuation…
• Photographs are also a means of
communication.
• It is a language sometimes defined as the
“most universal of all languages”.
• Photography has an advantage as a language
because it does not rely upon abstract
symbols-words.
• Photography thus is more direct and less
subject to misunderstanding.
Beginnings of Forensic
Imaging

Louis Dodero - a French

Photographer, originated the idea of
using photographs to establish
identity.
Forensic Crime Scene
Photography
Alphonse Bertillon
The grandfather of the
genre, developed the first process for this
type of work. .
Bertillon also was the first
photographer to capture mugshots and
create the standards for profile (head on,
side profile, etc).
Forensic Crime Scene
Photography
The other side of Forensic
Photography is the crime scene
photography that involves
documenting the scene rather than
the criminal.
Crime Scene
Photography
is the taking of pictures of the
I
scene of the crime which include:
• the placement of objects
• position of body
• evidence and fingerprints
• general view of the crime scene
with proper measurements and
scaling.
Significance of Photography in Police work
and Law Enforcement
In law enforcement work, photography
serves four primary functions:
• As a means of identification
• As a method of discovering, recording
and preserving evidence
• As a way to present in the court room
• As a training and public relations
medium for police programs
PHOTOGRAPHY IN CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION
• it enables to record the visible and in many
cases, the invisible evidences of a crime.
• Special techniques employing infrared, ultra-
violet, and X-ray radiation enable him to record
evidence, which is not visible. The
photographic evidence can then be stored
indefinitely and retrieved when needed.
Other Photography related to Police
Photography

1. Photomacrography or
Macro Photography
• Photographing of object at greater than 1:1
ratio up to nine (9) times magnification.
• It is useful in making of enlarge copies of
prints such as photographs of tampered
serial number of firearms, engine number
and chassis number of motor vehicle and
the like.
•
Other Photography related to Police
Photography
2. Photomicrography or
Micro Photography
• It is the art or process of
photographing minute objects and
magnified by means of the
microscope and enlarges from 10
times up magnification.
Other Photography related to Police
Photography
3. Infra-Red Photography
It is the art or process of
photographing or recording
unseen objects by the naked eye
by means of infra-red light.
Other Photography related to Police
Photography
4. Ultra-Violet
Photography
• It is the art or process of
photographing unseen objects by
the naked eye with the use of ultra-
violet rays and filters.
• The main purpose of photographing
ultra-violet photography is to
provide information about an object
or materials, which cannot be
obtained by ordinary photo
methods.
Other Photography related to Police
Photography
5. X-Ray Photography
Recording internal structure of the
body.
FUNCTIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN
INVESTIGATIVE WORK

1. Identification
• Criminal
• Missing Person
• Lost or stolen property
• Civilian
FUNCTIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN
INVESTIGATIVE WORK

2. Communication and Microfilm files

Transmission of photos (wire and radio photos)
Investigative report files
FUNCTIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN
INVESTIGATIVE WORK

3. Evidence
Recording and preserving
Crime scenes Discovering and proving
By contrast control
Vehicular accidents
By magnification
Homicide or murder
By invisible radiation
Robbery cases
Fires or arson
Object of evidence
Evidential traces
FUNCTIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN
INVESTIGATIVE WORK

4. Action of offenders
(Recording)
Surveillance
Burglary traps
Confessions
Re-enactment
FUNCTIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN
INVESTIGATIVE WORK

5. Court Exhibits
Demonstration enlargement
Individual photos
Projection slides
Motion Pictures
FUNCTIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN
INVESTIGATIVE WORK

6. Crime Prevention
Security clearance
FUNCTIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN
INVESTIGATIVE WORK

7. Public Relation
9. Reproduction and copying
8. Police Training Photographs
Prepared training films (Police tactics, Official records
investigation techniques)
Traffic studies
Documentations (riots and mob
control, disaster, prison disorders)
Basic Camera Parts
and Functions
Camera is a light-tight box; with a lens to form an image with a
shutter and diaphragm to control the entry of the image; a
means of holding a film to record the image and a viewer or
viewfinder to show the photographer what the image is.
Camera originated from the term camera obscura. Camera obscura (Latin
veiled chamber) is an optical device used, for example, in drawing or for
entertainment. It is one of the inventions leading to photography
camera obscura
. The principle can be demonstrated
with a box with a hole in one side (the
box may be room-sized, or hangar
sized). Light from a scene passes
through the hole and strikes a surface
where it is reproduced, in color, and
upside-down. The image's perspective
is accurate. The image can be
projected onto paper, which when
traced can produce a highly accurate
representation.
Basic Camera Parts and
Functions
1. Light Tight Box.
This part of the camera is very
essential because of its capability
to exclude all unwanted light that
may expose the sensitized
materials or film. It is an enclosure
that is devoid of light.
Basic Camera Parts and
Functions
2. Lens-
• The lens is the only responsible in
focusing the rays of light coming from
the subject. It is one of the most
important parts of camera because
without lens, it is impossible to form a
sharp image of the film.
Basic Camera Parts and
Functions
3. Film Holder-
The film holder holds the film firmly
inside the camera. It is always located
at the opposite side of the lens of the
camera.
Basic Camera Parts and
Functions
4. Shutter-
The shutter served as the barriers of the
rays of light that will enter and effect the film
inside the camera. It is usually placed at the
path of the light passing thru the lens
Basic Camera Parts and
Functions
5. View-finder –
it is a means of determining
the field of view of the
camera or the extent of the
coverage of the lens.
Crime Scene Processing Activities
The six crime scene activities and
their basic order are:
• Assessing
• Observing Notes
• Documenting Photos
Sketches
• Searching Reports
• Collecting
• Analyzing
DOCUMENTING
Documentation of the crime scene is the most critical element of
scene processing
Four key elements in crime scene documentation, they are:
 Notes
 Photographs
 Sketches
 Reports

Each is important in its own way. Each supports and adds to the value of the other
Types of Crime
Scene Photographs
There are three basic types of photographs used to
document every scene. These are:
• Overall photographs
• Evidence establishing photographs
• Evidence close-up photographs
Types of Crime
Scene Photographs
Overall Photographs
• Overall photographs are exposed with a wide angle lens that allows the viewer to
see a large area in the scene.
• Their function is to document the condition and layout of the scene as found.
• They help eliminate issues of subsequent contamination (e.g. tracked blood,
movement of items).
• They are typically taken by shooting from the four corners of the crime scene.
• These four photographs will often capture the entire scene.
• If not, additional photographs from an appropriate vantage point can be taken
as well.
Shooting the Four Corners

Photo # 1

Photo # 2

Photo # 3

Photo # 4
Overall Photograph Example

Overall Overall
Photo #1 Photo #2
Overall Photograph Example

Overall Overall
Photo #3 Photo #4
Types of Crime
Scene Photographs
Evidence Establishing Photographs
• Evidence establishing photographs are typically exposed with a 50mm lens.
• Their function is to frame the item of evidence with an easily recognized
landmark.
• This visually establishes the position of the evidence in the scene.
• They are the most overlooked photograph in crime scene work.
• The evidence establishing photograph is not intended to show details,
simply to frame the item with a known landmark in the scene.
• The close-up and the evidence establishing photograph go hand in hand.
• They are the most overlooked photograph in crime scene work.
• The evidence establishing photograph is not intended to show details,
simply to frame the item with a known landmark in the scene.
The close-up and the evidence establishing
photograph go hand in hand.

Where is this item in the scene?

The blue background by itself might indicate a

number of locations.
Evidence Establishing
Example

Evidence Close-up
example
 Very important when Evidence Establishing
taking photos of small Photograph
items, whose detail
may affect another
analysis.
 Ensure a good focus,
make the picture sharp.
Crime Scene Photography
Crime scene photography seeks to establish a visual
record of the condition of the scene and the items
present in it.
This record should lead the viewer from the overall
perspective to the details of specific objects.
Although simple in concept, there are recurring
problems associated to crime scene photography.
Recurring Problems in
Photography
Crime scene photography has four recurring problems that
detract from its value. These are:
• Identification Issues
• Orientation Issues
• Confusion Issues
• Incomplete Documentation Issues

Any one of these issues can detract from the viewer’s understanding of
the scene.
Recurring Problems in
Photography
Identification Issues
• Identification issues involve creating
photographs where the viewer is lost in
the scene.
• Photographs are taken of items and the
photo fails to illustrate what it is in the
picture.
• Or the photo documentation fails to
illustrate why the photograph was taken
in the first place.
Recurring Problems in
Photography
Orientation Issues
• Orientation issues involve creating
photographs where the viewer is lost in the
scene or has no orientation.
• Photographs are taken of an object
with no scene reference (e.g. Where is
it in the scene?).
• Photographs are taken in which
orientation is not clear (e.g Which
way is up?).
Recurring Problems in
Photography
Confusion Issues
Confusion issues involve creating photographs where the viewer is unclear of
which item is being photographed or which photo came first.
• Photographs show the scene in altered states.
• Photographs show multiple similar items with no way to distinguish one
from the other. This is particularly true when photographing small
objects like shell casings and bloodstains.
Recurring Problems in
Photography
Incomplete Documentation Issues
Incomplete documentation occurs when the crime scene
team fails to capture pertinent scene details.
• Too few photographs are exposed.
• Critical areas of the scene are forgotten.
• Methodical scene processing techniques help eliminate this
issue.
Crime Scene Photo Log
A crime scene photo log helps eliminate many of the
issues discussed.
It is a written record of photos, detailing:
• Administrative data.
• What time the photos were taken and in what order.
• What they show.
• Other pertinent details as deemed necessary.
Crime Scene Photo Log Sample
Case #: 02-01-0045 Date: January 13, 2002
Camera Used: Nikon F2a Time: 1830-1940 Hrs
Film Type: ASA 400 Scene: 3567 Wayland Dr.
Photographer: SA Brown Film Roll #: 1
Time Photo Depicting Distance Remarks
#
1830 1 Overall of master bedroom from 13’ 28mm
NE
1832 2 Overall of master bedroom 12’ 28mm
from SE
1835 3 Overall of master bedroom from 15’ 28mm, from hallway
SW
1837 4 Overall of master bedroom from 12’ 28mm
NW
1840 5 Evidence establishing of shell 7’ Placard #1, 50mm
casing
1842 6 Evidence close-up of shell casing 6’ Placard #1, 55mm
macro
RECOMMENDATION:
The School must provide adequate
equipment, exposed the students for
valuable training and experience taking
Photography subjects, for it is necessary
that they should be acquainted in Police
Photography. In this way, when they do
obtain a career in forensic photography,
they are prepared when they need to
present evidence in court.