Practical Crime Scene
Processing and Investigation
Chapter 6:
Photography
Crime Scene
Documentation
• Documentation of Crime Scenes
consists of four key elements:
• Notes
• Photographs/Video
• Sketches
• Reports
Crime Scene Documentation
• Each element plays an important role
• Each serves to memorialize what the
scene condition was, what the
investigator observed, and what the
investigator did.
• No single element stands alone; no
single element can replace another
element in and of itself.
Crime Scene Photography
Crime Scene photographs are
intended to lead the viewer of
the photographs through the The CSI can never
scene, from an overall take too many
perspective right up to the
details of specific items of photographs!!
evidence.
What Makes Good Photographs?
Good-Quality photographs require:
• Physical Control of your Camera
• Proper use of the camera controls such as aperture,
shutter speed, and lens
• Proper composition
Composition
• Organization of the space and items
depicted in the photo so that the
various visual elements properly relate
to one another.
• Involves controlling contrast, properly
framing the subject, maintaining
simplicity in the photograph, altering
the viewpoint and the application of
the Rule of Thirds.
• Rule of Thirds – relates to subject
placement, where the subject is always
framed slightly off center in the
photograph.
Recurring Problems in
Crime Scene Photography
• CSI must feel confident in the use of
the available equipment.
• A lack of confidence generally
manifest itself in terms of poor focus,
bleached-out colors, or insufficient
lighting.
• The photographer either fails to
physically control the camera or is
unskilled in using light and lens.
Recurring Problems in
Crime Scene Photography
• As a result, the CSI takes a number of
photographs as the scene that create
significant comprehension problems for the
viewer, including:
• Identification Problems
• Orientation Problems
• Incomplete Documentation
• Crime Scene photographs are created in which
the viewer has absolutely no idea of what the
item is or why the photograph was taken.
• In viewing the photograph, some object may be
apparent, but there are no supporting
photographs to help the viewer see the evidence
Identification
better.
• The viewer may ask:
Problems • What is it?
• What size is it?
• The photographer eliminates these problems by
creating evidence-establishing shots as well as
proper evidence close up shots that clearly and
fully depict all objects in question.
Identification Problems
• What is it?
• What size is it?
• Photographs are often created in which there is
no way to distinguish left from right or up from
down.
• Or the photograph fails to show an effective
Orientation landmark and the viewer is left to ponder and
guess where the object actually is in the scene.
Problems • With appropriate landmarks in the evidence-
establishing shot, orientation is easily
understood.
• Orientation issues are often significant at trial,
because orientation in the scene can change the
conclusions drawn from the evidence.
Which is
Correct Orientation?
• Photographs are routinely created
showing the scene in altered states or
conditions.
• Which photograph depicts the scene
Confusion best, and who altered the scene in the
Problems first place?
• Confusion also arises from shooting
poorly referenced photographs of a
number of similar items.
(bloodstains, fired casings,
fingerprints, bullet projectile sites)
Which photo came first?
Which item is which?
Three Basic Types of Photographs
OVERALL EVIDENCE ESTABLISHING EVIDENCE CLOSE-UP
(FORENSIC QUALITY
(“MIDRANGE” PHOTOGRAPHS)
PHOTOGRAPHS)
Overall • The purpose of overall photographs is to depict the general condition
and layout of the scene.
Photographs • CSI seeks to capture how the scene is oriented, where major visible
landmarks are and the condition of the scene prior to significant
alteration.
• Overall photographs are taken in two distinct iterations during crime
scene processing.
• The first occurs prior to the introduction of any scales, photo
placards, or the like. (in situ)
• After items of evidence and specific areas have been identified,
photo placards are introduced and a second set of overall
photographs are created to aid in understanding overall orientation.
Overall
Photographs
Overall
Photographs
• Also referred to as mid-range photographs (the
purpose of this photograph is not based on
Evidence distance),
• The purpose is to frame the item in conjunction
Establishing with some obvious landmark evident in the overall
photographs.
Photographs • The use of photo placards are important in this
stage because items may still be too small to be
noticeable.
• Several items of evidence may be present in one
evidence establishing
Evidence Establishing
Photographs
• Often referred to as “examination quality”
Evidence photographs
• Forensic or Examination Quality – is effectively a
Close–Up properly composed close-up photograph with an
appropriate scale present.
Photographs • Fill the Frame
• Parallel to the plane (to evidence).
• Detail and retain identity.
Evidence Close-Up Photographs
What’s wrong here???
Road-Mapping Method of Photographic Documentation
• Introduced when discussing photography of bloodstain patterns.
• Toby Wolson authored the concept.
• Default Standard for bloodstain documentation.
• Highly intrusive process
• Requires introduction of multiple labels and scales on the surfaces being
photographed and may require the movement of objects to expose patterns, or
defects.
• Never part of the initial crime scene documentation.
Road-Mapping Method of Photographic Documentation
• Road-Mapping involves the following steps:
• Recognition of discrete patterns or defects
• Placement of appropriate labels and scales
• Creation of overall photographs of an area with labels in place
• Creation of overall photographs of a pattern with labels in place
• Creation of additional evidence-establishing photographs of individual stains or details
when needed.
• Creation of close-up photographs of individual stains, defects, or details with labels in
place.
Photo Reference Card / Photo Log
• The photo reference card is
photographed as the first frame of
each new roll/media. It identifies the
basic information of what, when, and
who produced the photos.
• An abbreviated photo log keeps track
of each photograph, ensuring that the
purpose and subject matter of each
photo is understood.
Camera Modes
• Manual Mode: Allows photographer to control all aspects of
the camera.
• Photographer sets: ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture (f-
stop)
• The camera provides a meter reading.
• Aperture Priority Mode: The photographer sets the
aperture. The camera sets the proper shutter speed. The
ISO is set separately.
• Exposure is adjusted through the exposure
compensation setting.
• Shutter Priority Mode: The photographer sets the Shutter
Speed, and the camera sets the proper Aperture. The ISO is
set separately.
• Exposure is adjusted through the exposure
compensation setting.
• Program Mode: The camera pairs up an aperture and
shutter speed combination. The ISO is set separately.
• Exposure is adjusted through the exposure
compensation setting.
ISO
• Sensitively of the digital sensor to light
• The lower the ISO, the less sensitive to light
• The higher the ISO, the more sensitive to light
• Depending on manufacturer’s camera, typically do not want to go above ISO
1000 for Crime Scene Photographs.
• Anything over will cause more noise /graininess**
• Evidence Examination Quality Photographs must be taken in ISO 100 or 200.
ISO – Ranges / Negative Effect
ISO
dependent
on Scene
Aperture (f-stop)
• Controls the amount of light reaching the sensor through the lens by adjusting
the size of the opening.
• Aperture also affects Depth of Field.
• Depth of Field – affected by the amount of light a lens allows into any exposure.
It refers to how much of the picture is “in focus”
• The smaller the f-stop number → the larger the opening, therefore more light
allowed into lens.
• The smaller the f-stop number → less depth of field
• The larger the f-stop number → the smaller the opening, therefore less light
allowed into lens.
• The larger the f-stop number → more depth of field.
Aperture (f-stop)
Aperture – Depth of Field
Aperture – Depth of Field
Shutter Speed
• Length of time that the camera shutter is open to expose light into the
camera sensor.
• The slower the shutter speed --> more light that is allowed into lens
• The faster the shutter speed --> less light that is allowed into lens
• Faster Shutter speed -> stops motion
• Slower Shutter speed capturing motion with blur
• Shutter speeds slower than 1/30 and 1/60 of a second, require use of a
tripod to reduce camera shake and blur.
Shutter Speed
Exposure
Triangle
Exposure Triangle - Example
Exposure Triangle - Example
Manual Mode Methodology
• Step 1: Set the ISO
• Conditions of my scene? Indoor / Outdoor; Lighting
• Step 2: Set the Aperture
• What depth of field am I trying to achieve??
• Most crime scene photos in range of f/5.6 – f/11
Manual Mode Methodology
• Step 3: Check Camera Meter for Proper Exposure
• Step 4: Adjust shutter speed or aperture until proper exposure
• Most likely will only adjust shutter speed unless unable to hand hold
camera/no tripod available
Manual Mode Methodology
• Step 5:
Nikon D7200
Nikon D7200
• 01 - Power switch
• 02 - Shutter release button
• 03 - Movie record button*
• 04 - EV compensation button
• 05 - Metering pattern button*
• 06 - Control panel
• 07 - Accessory shoe
• 08 - In-built stereo microphone*
• 09 - Mode dial
• 10 - Focus ring
• 11 - Zoom ring
• 12 – Viewfinder
• 13 - Diopter adjustment
• 14 - AE-L/AF-L button*
• 15 - Main command dial
• 16 - Multi selector lock lever
• 17 – Multi selector
• 18 - Lv (live view) button
• 19 - Info button
• 20 - Rear LCD (monitor)
• 21 - ‘i’ button*
• 22 - ISO button
• 23 - Qual (quality) button
• 24 - WB (white balance) button
• 25 - Menu button
• 26 – Playback
• 27 - Release mode dial and lock
• 28 - Delete button
Nikon D7200
• 29 - AF Assist lamp*
• 30 - Lens release button
• 31 - Fn button*
• 32 - Pv button*
• 33 - Sub-command dial
Nikon D7200
• 34 - Auto/Manual
focus switch
• 35 - Bracket (BKT)
button*
• 36 - Flash mode
• 37 - Connector
covers
• 38 - Focus mode
selector
• 39 - VR switch
Nikon D7200
• 40 - Memory card
slot cover
Nikon D7200
• 41 - Battery
chamber cover
• 42 - Tripod socket
• 43 - Contact cover
for battery grip