Republic of the Philippines

Laguna State Polytechnic University

Province of Laguna

College of Criminal Justice Education

FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
(Forensic 1)
MODULE 1
What is Photography?
PHOTOGRAPHY is derived from the Greek words, "photo or phos" which means light, and “grapho” which means
“writing” or “graphia” which means “ to draw”. Thus literally, photography means "to draw with light". (Sarmiento, n.d.)
(Claro, n.d.)
-the process of the image by using any lights.
- SIR JOHN F.W. HERSCHEL coined the word photography in 1839
In the technical aspect Photography is defined as follows:
• As an Art
• As a Science
• As a Technology
• As a Process
As an Art; Photography is the art of taking pictures.
As a Science; Photography is the study concerning the duplication of images through the action of light, upon sensitized
materials (photographic paper or film) with the aid of mechanical device (camera) and its accessories, and the chemical
processes (film developing and printing) involved therein. (Agas et al., 2009)
As a Technology; Photography is the technology geared towards the reproduction of images by using the action of light
on a sensitive surface (photographic film) with the help of an image forming device (camera) and the chemical process
(developing and printing) involved therein. (Claro, n.d.)
As a Process; Photography is the method of using light to produce identical image of an object that can be preserved
permanently by employing:
 Camera - to RAF (regulate, absorb and filter) light;
 Film (sensitized material) - to record light. (Claro, n.d.)
 Photograph, on the other hand, refers to the chemical, mechanical or electronic product of photography. (Sarmiento,
n.d.)
-is an image produced through the action of light
 Picture – it is a generic term that refers to all representation of an image which are developed through drawings and
paintings or carving.
 Photo- it is a picture which can only be produce through the process of photography.
What is the definition of Technical Photography?
It refers to technical concepts and principles which includes; characteristics of photographic rays, the use of camera,
lenses, filters, structure of film and photographic papers, chemical processing and others. (Pallista, 2019)
What is Police Photography?
Police Photography may refer to any of the following:
 The study of general practices, methods or techniques of taking pictures of the. crime scene, physical
evidences and other circumstances that can be used as evidences or for law enforcement purposes.
 The field that focuses on the practical application of the science of photography in police work or law
enforcement operations.
 The field that deals with systematic crime scene photography and mug file preparation, including scientific
techniques of photography physical evidences and other objects and images that need to be reproduced and
preserved for law enforcement purpose. (Claro, n.d.)
POLICE PHOTOGRAPHERS play a crucial role in criminal investigations. The photographs they take at crime scenes
create a permanent record of the scene and the evidence found there, which both detectives and prosecutors rely on.
(Williams, 2019)
WHAT IS FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY?
Forensic Photography refers to the field covering the legal application of photography in criminal jurisprudence and
criminal investigation.
- It is the process of photographing or recording of crime scene or any other objects for court presentation.
It is that branch of forensic science dealing with the:
 Study of the fundamental but pragmatic principles/concepts of photography;
 Application of photography in law enforcement; and
 Preparation of photographic evidence needed by prosecutors and courts of law.
History of Photography
1727 Johann Schulze, a German doctor, made discovery that powdered silver nitrate darkened upon exposure to light.
This led to experiments, at first in the flask, later on paper, wherein stencils were placed in the path of the light rays in
order to produce a negative image upon the silver nitrate.
These images were temporary, however, because a way had not been found to stop the action of the light, which always
darkened the pictures to black. His findings were published in 1719 and reprinted in 1727.His discovery led to the
development of film and became a basis of modern photography.

1800 William Herschel was credited with the discovery of infra-red.

1826 Joseph Nicephore Niepce, French inventor, made the first successful photograph by capturing an image in a metal
plate coated with an asphalt compound. The coated metal exposed to light and plate placed in a solution that brought out
the picture and dissolved the unexposed portion thereby fixing the image.
1829 Niepce partnered with Louis Mande Daguerre, a French theatrical designer to study photograph developing process.
But before they successfully finish a developing process, Niece died.

1839 Daguerre revealed a successful process of developing which gains wide acceptance; thus his photographs we re
called---"The Daguerreotypes" Each photograph was unique as no negative was used in the process. This made it
impossible to make a reproduction of the same photograph
Willam Henry Fox Talbot, an English man, in about the same time, developed first practical process that produced a
negative from which prints could be made. The process is called the "calotype" or the "talotype"
 1847 Abel Niece de Saint-Victor, nephew of Joseph Niepce, coated a glass plate with albumen (the white of an egg)
which held the chemical fast.

1851 Frederick Scott Archer, an English chemist, introduced the wet collodion process to hold the silver compounds on a
glass which resulted to a much faster reaction of light. The process required that the glass plate be first coated before it is
loaded into the camera. Then the plate had to be exposed. 1870's Gelatin-based dry emulsion began to replace the wet
collodion plates.

1877 William Abney, an English photo-chemist, gave practical directions for manufacturing emulsions. He also invented
copper bromide-silver nitrate intensifications. In 1880, he introduced hydroquinone as a developer.

1880's George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York, introduced the flexible, roll-
up film and later a hand-held roll-up film camera, a camera that is easy to carry and use. The company also offered
services for processing of Films which made photography easier for amateur photographer. This marked the popularity of
photography as hobby.

1900's Experiments have been made with new printing techniques to make their photographs look like paintings.
Various darkroom techniques and multiple exposures were also developed.

1924 Leica Camera, a miniature 35 mm camera was introduced in Germany. This camera has flexibility and variety in
taking pictures. It can make sharp images and detailed pictures under different conditions.
It is the forerunner of today's 35 mm cameras.

1930's The development of electronic flash by Dr. Harold Edgerton (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) This is one
of the most important developments in photography.

1935 From early 1900's Kodachrome experiments, slide film was finally introduced and became and became the first
popular and affordable color film.

1940's Color-negative film was used.

1947 Edwin Howard Land, an American scientist, developed the instant film and the Polaroid Land Camera. In just a
matter of seconds, images are readily formed in an instant film after a shot has been made .

Development of Electronic Photography

1800's Discoveries of electricity and magnetism led to the electric telegraph.
1843 The first Facsimile (fax) machine was patented.
1920 Photographs can already be transmitted across Atlantic through underwater telegraph cable. The first digital
transmissions of photographs.

1950 Both the United States and the former Soviet Union were engaged in a space race, The US government now became
a major transmitter of images from manned and unmanned space crafts.
1964 Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 spacecrafts were launched and were able to produce the first electronic photo of Mars.
RCA television camera attached to a leg of the Apollo 11 Tunar lander took the first picture on the on surface.
Charge-coupled devices (CCD), works Of Willard Boyle and George Smith, , began to record images electronically.

In 1970's CCD cameras were made for industrial uses and later adapted for astronomy and space exploration.
1980'5 Sony Corporation of Japan introduced a consumer electronics camera (the Mavica - magnetic video camera). This
camera can record images on two-inch floppy disks which can be played on a television Or video monitor.

1990 DCS-100, a digital camera house in a modified Nikon SLR body was introduced by kodak.
This was the first digital camera designed as a full professional system. This was very expensive and had to be attached to
an external hard drive. Improvements were later made.
In the same year Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) was introduced which was less expensive than
CCD or DCS.
2000's Digital Cameras greatly improved. Their image quality was equal to or better than that of film. The spread of
digital later outsold film cameras.

Now digital cameras are being incorporated in different gadgets/ instrument such as computers, laptops, cellular phones,
iPods, notebook and digital organizers.

USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY TO POLICE WORK

1.PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION
-Personal Identification is considered to be the first application of photography is police work. Alphonse
Bertillion was the first police who utilized photography in police work as supplementary identification in his
Anthropometry system (Mugshot)

WILL AND WILLIAM WEST

2. FOR COMMUNICATION
- Photography is considered to be one of the most universal methods of communication considering thst no other
language can be can be known universally than photograph.
3. FOR RECORD PURPOSES
- the utmost used of photography in police work.
DIFFERENT VIEWS IN PHOTOGRAPHING
A. GENERAL VIEW- taking an over-all view of the scene of the crime . It shows direction and location of the crime
scene.
B. MEDIUM VIEW- is the taking of the scene of the crime by dividing it into section. This view will be view the nature
of the crime (8-10ft.)
C. CLOSE UP VIEW- is taking of individual photograph of the evidence at the scene of the crime . It is design show the
details of the crime.
D. EXTREME CLOSE UP VIEW- commonly designed in laboratory photographing using some magnification such as
Photomacrography and photomicrography.
4. FOR PRESERVATION
-Crime scene and other physical evidence requires photograph for preservation purposes. Crime Scene cannot be retain as
is for a long period of time but through photograph the initial condition of the scene of the crime can be preserved
properly
5. FOR DISCOVERING AND PROVIDING
- Photography can extend human vision in discovering and providing things such as:
A. THE USE OF MAGNIFICATION

PROCESS PRODUCT
1. PHOTOMICROGRAPHY  Taking a magnified photograph of small object
through attaching a camera to the ocular of a
(microscope+camera) compound microscope so as to show a minute details
of the physical evidence.
 Can enlarge 100x
2. PHOTOMACROGRAPHY  Taking a magnified(enlarged) photograph of small
object by attaching an extended tube lens (macro lens)
to the camera
 Enlarge 50x the picture

3. MICROPHOTOGRAPHY  Is the process of reducing into a small strips of film

a scenario . It is first used in filmmaking.
 Reducing the picture

4. MACROPHOTOGRAPHY  Used synonymously with photomacrography

5. TELEPHOTOGRAPHY  Is the process of taking photography of a far object

with the aid of along focus and telephoto lens.
(telephoto lens)
 Far distant object

6. For Court Exhibits

-Almost all evidence presented in court before formally be accepted requires that they satisfy the basic requirements for
admissibility which is relevancy and competency. A question of relevancy is usually proved by proving the origin of the
evidence and its relation to the case and this is usually supplemented by photograph of the evidence giving reference as to
where it came from.
-Evidence presented in court once accepted became known as Exhibit.
-Either Exhibit 1,2,3 etc. for the defense or Exhibit A,B,C etc for the prosecution.
7. Crime Prevention
- With the used of video camera (hidden camera) and other advanced photographic equipment crimes are being detected
more easily and even to the extent of preventing them from initially occurring.
8. Police Training - Modern facilities are now being used as instructional material not only in police training as well as in
other agencies.
9. Reproducing and Copying - With the use of photography any number of reproduction of the evidence can be made
those giving unlimited opportunity for its examination and even allow other experts or person to examine the specimen
without compromising the original.
What are the Significance of Photography in Law Enforcement and Criminal Investigation?
a. Photographs are necessary to preserve: (SET)
 Space - the where of the crime (locus criminis)
 Time - the when of the crime
 Event - the what of the crime (what is the nature or character of the crime)
b. Pictures allow police investigators to understand the element of the clarifying and revealing what is not seen and
understood upon the discovery of the crime.
c. Photograph is a great help in preserving the visual appearance of the crime. It provides a permanent record of the facts
of the crime.
WHAT ARE THE APPLICATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN POLICE WORK?
A. IDENTIFICATION - this is the very first use of photography in police work. It is used to identify criminals,
missing persons, lost property, licenses, anonymous letters, bank checks, laundry marks, and the civilian or
personnel fingerprint identification.
B. COMMUNICATION AND MICRO FILM FILES - investigative report files, accident files, transmission of
photos. (wire photos photographic supplements to reports with modern day electro - photography machines.
 C. EVIDENCE - crime scenes, traffic accidents, homicides, suicides, fires, objects of evidence, latent fingerprints,
evidential traces can frequently be improved by contrast control (lighting, film, and paper filters), by
magnification (photomicrography) or by invisible radiation (infra - red, ultraviolet, x - rays)
D. OFFENDER DETECTION - surveillance, burglar traps, confessions, re - enactments of crime.
E. COURT EXHIBITS - demonstration enlargements, individual photos, projection slides, motion pictures.
F. REPRODUCTION OR COPYING - questionable checks and documents, evidential papers, photographs, official
records and notices.
G. PERSONNEL TRAINING - photographs and films relating to police tactics, investigation techniques, mob
control, and catastrophe situation.
H. PUBLIC RELATIONS - film pertaining to safety programs, juvenile delinquency, traffic education, public
cooperation, and civil defense.

WHAT ARE PRINCIPLES OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

a. A photograph is the mechanical(working or produced by machines or machinery) result of photography.
b. To produce a photograph, light is needed aside from sensitized materials.
c. Lights reflected or radiated by a subject must reach the sensitized materials while all other lights must be
excluded.
d. The exclusion of all unwanted and unnecessary lights is achieved by placing the sensitized material inside the
camera.
e. The amount of light on the sensitized material after exposure is not immediately visible to the eyes.
f. To make the formed image visible, it must undergo the development process.
g. The visual effect that results from the chemical processing is dependent on the quantity and quality of the
exposing light.
h. More light will yield an opaque or black shade on the sensitized material after development.
i. Too little light will produce a transparent or white shade.
j. The varying shades of gray will finally form the complete image.

WHAT STEPS ARE TAKEN TO ENSURE PROPER PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION?

A. Secure the scene - In all forensic investigations, t he first step is to secure the crime scene.
B. Evaluate conditions - Next, the photographer should evaluate the available light and weather
conditions and adjust camera settings appropriately.
Crime scenes can be indoors, outside or both; they can be vehicles, include multiple rooms, or any
combination of locations, therefore no single camera setting will work for all crime scenes.
C. Shoot the scene - The photographer should take photographs before anything is disturbed, progressively
working through the scene from outside to close-up pictures. Many shots should be taken, from the entire scene,
to medium shots. to show the relationship of evidence to the overall scene.
D. Photograph the victims - The next series of shots should include victims (if present) to show locations, injuries
and condition.
E. Photograph the evidence - Then each piece of evidence should be photographed to illustrate where it was found.
This establishes the relationships of the evidence to the victim, the victim to the room and so on. These photographs
should be taken from straight above or straight on at right angles, eliminating potential distance distortions. Each
piece of evidence should be photographed with a scale to indicate size and without a scale.
F. Evidence markers - Photographs should be taken before evidence markers are placed, then again after. These
initial shots are important to prove that no one has tampered with the crime scene.
G. Re-shoot for new evidence - If investigators mark new evidence, the whole series of shots should be repeated,
including all evidence shots. These photos should include the entire piece of evidence and a scale to indicate size.
H. Special imaging techniques and lighting should be used to capture things like fingerprints, indentations, shoe and
tire track impressions, vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and very small pieces of evidence.
Techniques may include:
 Alternate light sources (ALS) - such as lasers, blue or green lights and colored filters that help detect latent
processed latent fingerprints or other hidden evidence and illuminate for photographing
 Oblique angle lighting - using a flashlight, camera flash or ALS at a very low angle to cast shadows that allow an
imprint or impression to be photographed
 Macro lenses - can take very close-up images (1:1 or 1:2) of small items such as tool marks or trace evidence.
 Shoot fast - Sometimes environmental factors such as rain, snow or traffic can make conditions difficult for
photography. The photographer must work quickly to capture as much visual documentation as possible from a
deteriorating scene.
I. Photograph the victim later - If a victim must be moved or requires treatment, the photographer can go back to
document the victim's injuries. Various techniques using special lighting and colored filters can highlight injuries
(bruising, scarring) and healing status.