HOLY TRINITY COLLEGE OF GENERAL SANTOS CITY

General Santos City

PHOTOGRAPHY

JOEL B. MANTILLA HANA NEI DELA ROSA

ABALAJON
MCJ 450 STUDENT PROFESOR
A. PHOTOGRAPHY

1. Literal definition:

Two versions on the "root words" or origin of the word photography

1). Photography is derived from the Greek word "phos" or "photo"

meaning light and the word "grapho" which means to draw. Literally
therefore, photography is the drawing with light.

2). The other version, the second word is "graphia” which means to write
or literally too, photography is the writing with light.
2. Modern definition:

Photography is an 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 processes involved therein. (Aquino 1972)
B. Police Photography

Police photography refers to the use of a camera and video for law
enforcement purposes such as documenting physical evidence and crime
scenes, or recording interrogations, traffic stops, surveillance, public
thoroughfares, traffic accidents and still images of arrested individuals
(Miller, 2007).

C. Forensic Photography is the art or science of photographically

documenting a crime Scene and evidence for laboratory examination and
analysis for purposes of court trial. (Redsicker 2001)
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Basic Component of Photography

1. Light
Light is radiant energy, usually referring to Electromagnetic
radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the
sense of sight.

2. Equipment (1700)

The portable camera obscura (Latin for dark chamber) was

used by artist or painters to get accurate perspective of natural
scene and scale of their subject

3. Chemicals (1726-1777)

Light sensitivity of silver nitrate chloride solution was

discovered and investigated. In 1800 Thomas Wedgewood and
Humphy Davy produced Photogram.
Camera obscura
Photogram
B. The Birth of Photography

Joseph Nicéphore Niépce

 First Permanent Photograph using Camera

Obscura.

 Process known as heliography

 Polished pewter plate covered with a

petroleum derivative called bitumen of
Judea. (Asphalt)

 Oil of Lavender as solvent.

 “View from the Window at Le Gras.” 1826

 Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre

 Daguerrotype Process first practical photographic

process

 Create image on silver plated cooper, coated with

silver iodide and developed with warmed
mercury.

 Boulevard du Temple first ever photograph of

person

 Awarded a state pension by the French

government – publication of methods and the
rights of French citizens to use
Boulevard du Temple in Paris
 William Henry Fox Talbot

 Calotype Process

 Creates permanent images using paper

soaked in silver chloride and fixed with a
salt solution

 Created positive images by contact

printing onto another sheet of paper.
C. Criminal Applications

Richard Leach Maddox

 English Doctor

 Proposes the use of an emulsion gelatin and

silver bromide on a glass plate. (Dry Plate
Process)

 Used to photograph of inmates for prison

records
Odelberch (1864)

first advocates the use of photography for the identification of

criminals and the documentation of evidence and the crime scene.

Alphonse Bertillion (1982)

who initiated anthropometric measurements for personal

identification was also involved in various means of documentation by
photography which developed into a fine science for criminalistics when
he photographed crime scenes and formulated a technique of contact
photography to demonstrate erasures on documents.
D. CAMERA

Camera- is a light-tight box; with a lens to form an image; it 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 classified as according to:

1. The size of the film they use or format of the picture they produce.

a. Large format cameras –These cameras have bellows and use sheet
films in the size 4"x5", 5"x7" and 8"x10

b. Medium format cameras - Some of these cameras are folding type

with bellows and some are rigid-body with film size of 120,220, 70
mm. The double lens reflex camera falls under this category.

c. Small format cameras- Those film size 126, 110, 35 mm., 16 mm,
and 8 mm.
Large format cameras

4X5 film size 8X10 film size

5x7 film size

Medium format cameras
Small format camera

35 mm film size
2. The viewing/focusing system

a. Those with focusing mechanism at the back of the camera

b. Those with optical viewfinder

3. Overall design and functions

a. View camera b. System cameras

E. Sensitized Material

Refers to FILM and PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER that is basically

composed of emulsion containing silver halides crystal suspended in a
gelatin and coated on a transparent or reflective support.

Film - It is a cellulose tape or plate where silver salts are suspended capable
of recording light. Its primary function is to record the image that is
focused upon it by the lens of the camera.

Photographic film - is a strip or sheet of transparent plastic film base

coated on one side with a gelatin emulsion containing microscopically small
light sensitive silver halide crystals.

It is also a chemical reactive material that records a fixed or still

image through the action of light. The sizes and other characteristics of the
crystals determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film.
Kinds of Film

1. Ordinary film / Panchromatic film - sensitive to all colors especially in

blue and violet. It is suitable for general use in the preparation of black
and white photographs.

2. Blue sensitive film - a film especially treated that makes it more sensitive
to blue.

3. Orthochromatic / Kodalith film - Sensitive to all colors except red. Good

for fingerprint or document.

4. Polaroid Film - a special type of sensitized material that produces a

photograph immediately after exposure.
5. Color film - all film ending color

6. X-Ray film - a material which is sensitive to X-ray region of the

electromagnetic spectrum.

7. Color infrared film - a special type of film which is sensitive to

infrared radiation, to violet and blue green. In investigative
photography, it is useful in laboratory analysis of questionable
documents. In the discovery of old or faded tattoos or areas where
small objects are hidden under the skin, and in the construction of
camera traps.
Parts of Black & White FILM

1. Emulsion
2. Gray/Anti-Halation Backing
3. Base
4. Silver halides
5. Gelatin
F. Application of Photography in Police work

a. General Application

1. Identification purposes

2. Recording and preserving evidence

3. Discovering and proving of evidences not readily seen by the

naked eye

4. Recording action of offenders

5. For court exhibits

6. For crime prevention

7. Public information

8. Police Training
b. Specific Application

1. Identification Photograph

 An identification photograph should be an accurate likeness of

the subject, from which he can be recognized by witnesses or
police officers. These photographs should strive to reproduce
every mole, scar, wrinkles and other marks which will help
identify the subject. Generally, a full front lighting will
accomplish it. The standard photograph for identification is the
head and shoulder shot of the subject's front and profile (either
full side view or quarter face).
Photograph of a suspect
2. Crime-scene photography

 The primary purpose of crime scene photograph is to provide

information that will assist the successful investigation and
subsequent prosecution of a criminal case.

Crime scene photography serves in the following areas:

1) To provide the investigator and the prosecutor with an accurate

pictorial presentation of the appearance and position of objects at
the scene.

2) To aid in the questioning of suspects and witness when thier

sworn statements are being taken.

3) To present to the court an accurate picture of the scene thereby

enabling them to understand the evidences better and evaluate
intelligently the testimony concerning the distances of the
defendants and witnesses.
 RULES TO OBSERVE IN CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

RULE 1. Do not disturb the crime scene

RULE 2. Get a complete series of picture

RULE 3. Pay attention to camera angle

RULE 4. Record all data

TWO GENERAL CLASSIFICATION of CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY
THE CRIME SCENE POTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE

1. Over-all or General view Photographs - Overall photographs, as the

name implies, capture the overall aspects of the crime scene. Their
purpose is to show exactly where the scene was, to the exclusion of any
other location, and to show all boundaries of the scene.

2. Mid range Photographs - These photographs should be taken at a normal

focal length in order to correctly depict distances.

3. Close-up Photographs - They must show all sides of the item and clearly
show any markings, defects, or other identifying features. Each
photograph is usually taken twice: once with a scale, and once without a
scale.
References;

https://mymodernmet.com/camera-obscura/

Handbook on Photography by Dr. Waynefred H. Villarba, PhD.Crim,

second edition printed by Wiseman’s Books Trading, Quezon City, 2015

Handbook on Photography by Dr. Waynefred H. Villarba, PhD.Crim, third

edition printed by Wiseman’s Books Trading, Quezon City, 2021

https://petapixel.com/first-photos-photography-history/

https://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/photo/Photography.pdf