Forensic
photography
Chapter 1: introduction to Photography
photography
Phototgraphy
2 greek word PHOTOS which means light and
GRAPHUS to write
So photography means is to write with light
2. 1st used by the scientist – sir John FW Herschel in
1839
photography
Art or science which deals with the reproduction of
images through the action of light, upon sensitized
materials, with the aid of a camera and its accessories,
and the chemical process involved therein.
3. Involves in the creation using light.
Color Photography
The ability of the film to record color is due to the
presence of three layers of color yellow, red, blue
on the film. When combined these three colors
represent the majority of colors that we see.
PRINCIPLES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
1. The mechanical and chemical result of photography
is known as PHOTOGRAPH. In making a photograph,
light is needed aside from sensitized materials (film and
Papers). Light radiated or reflected by the subject must
reach the film while all the other lights are excluded. The
exclusion of all other light is achieved by placing the film
inside a light tight box (camera).
Police photography
Study of the general practices, methods, and
steps in taking pictures of the crime scene,
physical things that can be used for law
enforcement purposes
4. Is defined as an art or science that deals with
the study of principles of photography,
preparation of photographic evidence and its
application to police work.
Forensic
photography
Application of photography in criminal jurisprudence
and criminal investigation
Refers to the recording of objects and scenes to be
used for and within legal process.
5. Involves the process of recording the crime scene or
any object for court presentation.
Significance in law
enforcement
As a means of identification
As a means of discovering , recording, and preserving evidence
As a way to present in the court room the impression of the
pertinent elements of a crime
As a training and public relations or medium for police
programs.
Further uses of photography in police
work
It serves as evidence
It preserve all pieces of evidence
It refreshes the mind of the investigator
It records the illegal activities of criminals
It is useful in personal identification as well as in the
identification of missing persons, wanted persons and
stolen or lost properties.
It records all things that the investigator may fail to
notice.
It assists the court in understanding the case
It helps reconstruct the crime scene
It helps the expert witness in illustrating their b
findings
It supplements, explains and replaces the
descriptive testimony of witnesses
It serves as lecture materials and illustrations
during police personnel training
It serves to reproduce and copy documents
Brief history of
photography
The Chinese were the first people that
we know to write about basic idea of the
pinhole camera or “camera obscura”
latin words meaning dark room
Alhazen (965-1039)
An Arabian Scholar who found out that
the light entering a small hole on the
wall or shuttered window of darkened
room cast an upside down picture of the
scene outside onto the opposite wall.
Johann heinrich
schulze
6. Observed that silver salts
darkened when exposed to lights
7
Joseph nicephore niepce
Put a plate coated with bitumen in a camera obscura.
He put the camera obscura facing his house for eight
hours and made a photograph. It is the earliest camera
photograph that we still have today
Niepce began sharing his findings with louis Jacques
mande Daguerre, an artist who owned a theatre in Paris.
They became partners three years later. Daguerr’s most
important discovery came in 1835, two years after niepce
died
Louis Jacques mande
daguerre
Daguerre’s process, which named the
daquerreotype, was announced to the world on
January 7, 1839. half a year later the French
government gave Daguerre and niepce’s
son,Isidore, a lifetime pensions in exchange for
all rights to their invention. The daguerreotype
was become France’s gift to the world.
Henry fox talbot
Create a permanent (negative ) images
using paper soaked in silver chloride and
fix with a salt solution
Called Calotype process
8
Abel niepce de saint-
victor
Nephew of joseph niepce, coated a glass
plate with albumen which held the chemical
fast.
(niepcotype)
SIR JOHN FREDERICK WILLIAM
HERSCHEL (1792-1871)
A British astronomer and photographic chemist.
Inspired by Daguerre and Talbot, English astronomer Sir John
Frederick William Herschel also began experimenting with the
photographic process.
He discovered that thiosulphate of soda, the chemical now
referred as “Hypo”, would fix images on photosensitive paper
by stopping the chemical action of silver salts
He did not only discovered fixer, but also coined the
word photography, which comes from the Greek word
meaning “light writing”
Herschel used the term photography to differentiate
between Talbot’s negative paper prints and Daguerre’s
positive image method that used copper plates.
Herschel is noted for his 1819 discovery of thiosulfates
and their ability to dissolve silver salts completely,
which led, 20 years later, after Daguerre and Fox Talbot
claimed invention of photography.
He suggested to both inventors that sodium thiosulfate,
or hypo, could be used as a fixing agent to wash away
the unaltered salts after the photograph was processed
The chemical, still in use and known as “fixer”, makes
photographic negatives and prints permanently.
FREDERICK SCOTT ARCHER (1831-1857)
In March 1851, he invented a wet-plate collodion photography or wet-
plate process now known as Archerotype, by which finely detailed glass
negatives were produced.
The process entailed using a glass plate coated with collodion that was
sensitized and used while wet.
Archer is generally accepted as the creator of the process that replaced
daguerreotypes. It was popular from about 1855 to 1880, when the dry
collodion process gained acceptance.
He reduced exposure times from minutes to seconds.
9
RICHARD LEACH MADDOX
An English physician who took Archer’s discovery a step
further with his “dry plate” process, which used an emulsion or
gelatin and silver bromide or a glass plate.
By 1880, collodion was replaced by gelatin, which was used in
dry plate-hence the name, dry plate photography. For short time,
there was a dry-collodion process, but it was very slow. Dry
plate usually refers to the gelatin process.
GEORGE EASTMAN ([Link]. Kodak)
(1854-1932)
An American photographic inventor and manufacturer.
The founder of Kodak Company.
He introduced the Kodak box camera in 1888 with the
promotional slogan “You press the button, we do the rest.” It
was sold for $25 and came already loaded with a 20-foot roll of
paper film, enough for 100 exposures. After all frames were
exposed, the user sent the entire camera back to Eastman’s
company. There, the film was processed, printed, and the camera
was loaded with a new roll, after which it was sent back to its
owner with the negatives and a set of prints.
He gave us the flexible roll film and the daylight-
loadable camera in the late 1880s or the first “point-
and-shoot” camera.
In 1932, at the age of 78, Eastman killed himself,
leaving a note that said, “My work is done. Why
wait?
Dr. r.a. reis
German scientist who contributed
heavily to the use of photography in
forensic science and established the
world’s earliest crime laboratory that
serviced the academic community and
Swiss police
10. Victor
balthazard (1910)
He developed a method of
photographic comparison of bullets
and cartridge cases which act as an
early foundation of the fields of
ballistics
Edwin h. land
He entroduced polaroid –one-step photography
An American inventor in1947, he invented
instant photography and introduced the first
Polaroid camera, which produced a sepia
monochrome print in just 60 seconds
Photographic rays
(nature and
characteristics
X-RAY
01-30 MILLIMICRON “SHADOW
PHOTOGRAPHY
ULTRA VIOLET LIGHT
30-400 MILLIMICRONS “BLACK LIGHT’
VISIBLE LIGHT
400-700 MILLIMICRON
INFRARED LIGHT
700-1000 MILLIMICRON
LIGHT
LIGHT is a radiant energy, usually
referring to electromagnetic radiation that is
visible to the human eye and responsible for
the sense of sight.
(approximately 186,282 miles per second.
In air. But they differ in wavelength and
frequency
Nature of light
Wave theory (Christian Huygens) based on the transmission
of motion along the surface of water.
Corpuscular Theory ( Isaac Newton) light exert its effect
through the motion of a very small particles called corpuscles
Electromagnetic Theory (Clerk Maxwell) concluded that
light was a form of electromagnetic radiation.
color
Primary colors
Approximate wavelength
Blue 400-500nm
Green 500-600nm
Red 600-700nm
Color mixing
Color addition
R+B= M
R+G= Y
B+G= C
R+B+G= W
optics
Is the study of light and object that affect
It is concerned with the nature of light and the way it behaves in
optical instruments.
Light is a form of energy and so an object may only produce
light when there is energy present
A red-hot piece of metal receives energy in the form of heat and
converts some of it into red light.
Bending of light
When travelling in open space , light travels in straight
line. However, when light comes in contact with object, it
may be bended in the following manner.
1. reflection
2. refraction
3. diffraction
reflection
Is the deflection or bouncing back of light
when hits a surface
refraction
Is the bending of light when
passing from one medium to
another
diffraction
Is the bending of light when hits a
sharp edge of an opaque object
Mediums of light
Transparent objects – mediums that merely slow down
the speed of light but allow to pass freely in other
respects, transmit 90% or more of the incident light.
Translucent objects – mediums that allow light to pass
through it in such a way that the outline of the source of
light is not clearly visible, transmit 50 % or less of the
incident light
Opaque objects – a medium that divert or absorb light,
but does not allow light to pass through.
The rat law
When incident light hits a medium, three
things might happen, the light maybe:
A. reflected
B. absorbed
C. transmitted
Source of light
Natural light – are light which come to existence
without the intervention of man
Artificial light – are lights which are man made.
Classification of
daylight intensity
Bright sunlight – a lighting condition where
objects in open space cast a deep and uniform
shadow.
Hazy sunlight – objects in open space cast a
transparent shadow.
Dull sunlight – objects in open space cast no
shadow.
camera
The principle of photography are derived from
science and the images on the film or paper
made by the light rays through the camera are
dependent on the same general laws which
produces images upon the retina through the lens
of the eye.
The essentials of any camera, therefore, are
light tight box, a lens , a shutter, and a
holder of sensitized material and view
finder.
Light tight box
Suggests an enclosure devoid light. An
enclosure, which would prevent light
from exposing the sensitized material
inside the camera.
Lens
To focus the light coming from the
subject. It operates more or less the same
way as the lens of the eye.
The shutter
The control of the duration of the exposure of the sensitized
material of light. The higher the numerical value of the shutter
speed the shorter will be the duration of the opening and closing
of the shutter.
Device that prevents light from reaching the film until the
photographer is ready to take a picture. When a lever or button is
released or button is pushed, the shutter is released, and spring or
magnet snap its aside, exposing the film to light for a certain light
of time.
Film holder/ holder of
sensitized material
To hold firmly the sensitized
material in its place during
exposure.
View finder/viewing
system
Shows the photographer the scene being photographed. It maybe
a viewing screen a miniature lens system, or a sample wire frame.
SHUTTER RELEASE BUTTON
The mechanism that releases the shutter and therefore enables the
ability to capture the image. The length of time the shutter is left
open or exposed is determined by the shutter speed.
Shutter - Device that prevents light from reaching the film until the photographer
is ready to take a picture. When a lever or button is released or button is pushed, the
shutter is released, and spring or magnet snap its aside, exposing the film to light
for a certain light of time.
Diaphragm- changes the size of the aperture of the lens. Like a
shutter with valuable speed, a diaphragm regulates the amount of
light reaching the film.
The diaphragm also affects depth of field- the smaller the
aperture the greater the depth of field
Depth of field – range in front of and a sharply behind focused
subject in which details also look sharp in the final photographic
image.
- It depends on lens aperture , the focused distance, and the focal
length of the lens
Lens aperture
Adjustable cameras are equipped with an iris
diaphragm, a device located in or near the lens and
consisting of thin overlapping leaves that fold together
to create a hole continuously variable size. In this way
the aperture or lens opening, can be adjusted to admit
more or less light required.
flash
Device used in photography producing a flash of artificial light. A major purpose of a
flash is to illuminate a dark scene. Other uses are capturing quickly moving objects or
changing the quality of light.
FILM ADVANCER
Necessary so that the exposed film can be transferred to the take up spool.
While the un exposed film remain on the opposite side of the lens for another exposure
Types of camera
View finder type – considered as smallest and
simplest type of camera
Single lens reflex camera – types of camera best
suited for police work
Twin lens reflex camera – camera with dual
lens , one for focusing and the other one for
forming the image.
View or press type – considered as the biggest
and the most sophisticated camera. Used in
movie making
Classification of
lenses
Divergent, negative or concave lens –
this lens always thinner at the center and the thicker at
the sides. Light passing through it are bended away
from each others as if coming from a point
Convergent, positive or convex lens –
this lens is always thicker at the center and the thinner
at the sides, light passing through it are bended toward
each other at the other side of the lens meeting at a
point.
Inherent lens defect
SPHERICAL ABERRATION – in ability of the lens
to focus light passing side of the lens producing an
image that sharp in the center and blurred at the side.
COMA – inability of the image to travel straight or
lateral
Curvature of field – the relation of the image are
incorrect with respect to one another
DISTORTION – defect in shape not in sharpness
CHROMATIC ABERRATION – inability
of lens to focus light of varying
wavelength. The lens refract rays of
short wavelength and therefore bring
blue rays to shorter focus than red
ASTIGMATISM – horizontal and
vertical axis are not equally magnified
FLARES – condition of lens producing
multiple images
Classification of lens according to
degree of correction
MENISCUS LENS – lens that has no
correction
RAPID RECTILINEAR LENS – lens
corrected of distortion
ANASTIGMATIC LENS – correcting
astigmatism
APOCHROMATIC LENS – correcting
both astigmatism and chromatic
Focal length
Standard camera lenses
Normal lens / medium
focus
Lens with a focal length approximately equal to
the diagonal of the film format
(50mm)
(24mm to 35 mm)
Wide –angle /short focus
A lens with an angle of view that is
wider than that of human eye . A
wide- angle lens has a focal length
which less than the diagonal of the
film format.
Telephoto lens
A lens with a narrow angle of view, a
longer than a normal focal length, the
ability to magnify images, and
exhibiting relatively shallow depth of
field
Lens speed
Refers to the largest opening of the diaphragm
that the light can pass through it determines the
maximum intensity of the light tight box
A. FAST LENS- lens with a high lens speed is
during night time or in dark room
B. SLOW LENS – lens with low lens speed, used
during day time or where the room is very bright
The light gathering power of the lens
expressed in f- number
DEPTH OF FIELD – is the range in front of and
behind a sharply focused subject in which details
also look sharp in the final photographic image.
HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE- nearest distance at
which when the lens is focused with a given
particular diaphragm opening will gives the
maximum depth of field
Lens setting technique that allows you to shoot
sharp pictures within a certain distance range
without having to refocus.
The lower the f number , the bigger
the lens opening, and the greater the
volume of light that will passed
through the lens and will reach the
sensitized material
Depth of field vs. depth
of focus
Depth of field – the zone of acceptable sharpness or
the area or zone of a photograph, from front to back,
which is in focus or the range of distance in a scene
that appears to be in focus and will be reproduced as
being acceptable sharp in an image.
Depth of field is controlled by the lens aperture, and
extends for a distance in front of and behind the point
on which the lens is focused
Photographic film
A film consist basically, of a random
scattering of light sensitive silver halides
suspended in a layer of animal gelatin which
is coated onto acetate support or base
Characteristics of black and
white film
Emulsion Speed
The sensitivity of the film to light extent to which emulsion is
sensitive to light
The light sensitivity of the film is also known as the film speed
. Speed of the film is determined through the numerical film
speed labels by the film manufacturer
TWO CLASSICAL SPEED
RATINGS THAT BECAME
POPULAR
ASA (AMERICAN STANDARD ASSOCIATION
Rating- this is expressed in arithmetical value system. The speed in
numbers is directly proportional to the sensitivity of the material. A film
with arithmetical value of 400 is four times fast as one with a speed of
100
DIN (DEUTCHE INDUSTRIE NORMAN
RATING- THIS Expressed in logarithmic value system. In this system,
an increase of 3 degree doubles the sensitivity of the film .
ISO ( INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
ORGANIZATION)
RATING THIS EXPRESSES IN THE COMBINED
ARITHMETICAL AND LOGARITHMIC VALUES.
ASA 12 DIN” ISO 12/12
ASA 25 DIN 15” ISO 25/15
ASA 50 DIN 18” ISO 50/18
ASA 100 DIN 21” ISO 100/21
Spectral sensitivity
Responsiveness of the film
emulsion to the different
wavelength of light source
Classification of films as
according to its spectral
sensitivity
Monochromatic film
a film that is sensitive to a single color of
light ( for white and black)
A. Blue sensitive film-a film specially treated
that makes it more sensitive to blue rays light
B. Ultra violet sensitive film – sensitive to
UV rays only
2. PANCHROMATIC
FILM
Sensitive to ultra- violet rays, and all light found in the
visible spectrum, especially to blue and violet light
3. ORTHOCROMATIC FILM
Film that is sensitive to UV rays, blue and green color, but
not to red
INFRARED FILM
A special type of film that is sensitive
to enfrared and ultra violet- radiation
(radiation beyond the human eyes
sensitive)
GRANULARITY OR
GRAINESS
This refers to the size of the metallic grains that are
formed after development of an exposed subject
Generally, the size of metallic silver grains are
dependent on the emulsion speed of the film and the
type of developing solution that is used in processing
Sensitized paper
The result of photography in its final form is the
photograph.
The materials necessary to produce a photograph
(positive Print) are sensitized paper. It has emulsion
that is coated with opaque material like paper.
Characteristics of
photographic paper
1. emulsion speed
A. chloride paper – slow speed suited for contact printing
B. bromide paper – fast speed and is recommended for
projection
C. chloro- bromide paper – multi speed and could be used in
both contact printing and enlarging
2. Contrast range or
grade
In black and white printing, it is often necessary to
adjust the paper contrast so they can yield a natural
scene result from negatives with density range that are
either too high or too low
1. Velox No. 0 = used for printing extremely
contrast negative or extremely exposed film.
2. Velox No. 1 = used for high contrast negative
(over exposed film)
3. Velox No. 2 = used for normal exposed film
4. Velox No. 3 = used for negative with weak
contrast (under exposed)
5. Velox No. 4 = used to provide sufficient
contrast to compensate for very thin or weak
negatives. It is useful imprinting which high
contrast is desired.
6. Velox No. 5 = for flat negative that are
3. PHYSICAL
CHARACTYERISTICS
Under this category,
photographic papers comes in
different surfaces, base
thickness or weight color
CHEMICAL PROCESS
After the exposure of the film to light in the
picture taking or the photographic paper
during printing, the next step would
generally be chemical processing.
The process of making the latent image
visible and permanent.
a. Development (Use of either D-76, Dektol or Universal Solution)
= Is the process necessary for reducing the silver halides to form the
image.
Elon, Hydroquenone = used as main developing agents
b. Stop bath = normally composed of water with little amount of
dilute acetic acid that serves as a means to prevent contamination
between the developer and the acid fixer.
c. Fixation = Is the process by which all unexposed silver halides are
dissolved or removed from the emulsion surface and making the
image more permanent.
Sodium Thiosulfate (hypo) is the main fixing agent that dissolves
unexposed silver halides.
Other chemicals used:
Acetic Acid and Boric acid = serves as
neutralizer
Sodium Sulfate = serves as the preservative
Potassium Bromide = restrainer or hardener
Sodium bicarbonate and borax powder =
serves as accelerator
Dodging = is the process of eliminating unwanted portion of
the negative during enlarging.
Cropping = is the process of omitting an object during the
process of enlarging and printing.
Vignetting = is the gradual fading of the image towards the
side through skillful adjustment on the dodging board.
Dye toning = is the process designed in changing the color
tone of the photograph.
Burning-In = refers to additional exposure on a desired
portion of the negative used for purposes of making a
balance exposure.
DOCUMENTATIO
N OF THE CRIME
SCENE
CRIME SCENE
Can be defined as a location at which an
offense was committed and where the
potential evidence of that crime may exist.
This may include a home, automobile or a
remote location in the woods
METHODS OF
DOCUMENTING THE CRIME
SCENE
NOTE TAKING
SKETCHING
PHOTOGRAPHY
PURPOSE OF CRIME
SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS
TO give a documented record of the scene as it is
observed.
To record useful information in a series of
photographs which will enable the viewer to
understand where and how the crime is committed.
Steps to ensure proper
photographic
documentation
Secure the scene
Evaluate conditions
Shoot the scene
Photograph the victim
Photograph the evidence
Evidence markers
Re-shoot for new evidence
Shoot fast
Photograph the victim later
Ranges in Photograph
An important aspects to consider regarding the various ranges
of photograph is the general point of view established by the
camera locations. These location will enable the viewer of the
pictures orient the crime scene in a logical manner
A. General view/ long range
B. Medium View or Mid-range
C. Close-up View / range
Extreme close up view
General View/ Long Range
taking an over-all view of the scene of the crime. It shows direction and location of the
crime scene.
Medium Range or Mid-Range
Is the taking of the photograph of the scene of the crime by dividing it into section.
This view will best view the nature of the crime.
Close-Up View
Is the taking of individual photograph of the evidence at the scene of the crime. It is
design to show the details of the crime.
Methods of Photographing the
Crime Scene
Overlapping Method
Progressive Method
Overlapping Method
A photographic method of taking a series of photographs in a circular or clock wise
direction, overlapping each other slightly to show the entire crime scene.
If a single photograph cannot show the entire crime scene, apply this method
Progressive Method
which starts from a fixed point, photographs each piece of evidence as the
photographer moves toward it, and progressively gets closer in the pictures.
Bodies are photographed
from five angles:
(1) head to feet
(2) right side
(3) feet to head
(4) left side
(5) straight down from above
Sequential Photographs of the
Crime scene
Views of the exterior of the building/ vehicle, with relation to other
buildings/vehicles, roads, streets, etc.
Point of entry, outside and inside
Point of exit, outside and inside
Condition of the crime scene
Area from which valuable articles were removed
Articles left at the scene
Trace evidence, such as hairs, fibers, and cigarette butts
Tool marks and impressions of shoes or tire trucks
Fingerprints and footprints, as well as articles on which these prints may be
found
Best evidence rules and
Photographs
Photographs is not a legal substitute for the object or article itself, as evidence
Nevertheless, all physical evidence should be photographed , a photograph of a
revolverwill not be accepted as evidence in court.
The weapon itself must be brought to court this is an essence of the best evidence
rule.
LEGAL FOUNDATION OF DIGITAL
PHOTOGRAPHY
RULES ON ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE
Acting on the memorandum dated June 18, 2001 of the committee on the revision of rules
of court to draft on the E- Commerce Law (R.A no. 8792)the Supreme Court, Approved
the said resolution
-This apply to all cases pending after the effectivity date August 1, 2001