FORENSIC

PHOTOGRAPHY
By: ALDEN B. GALIDO
CHAPTER II – PRINCIPLES OF
PHOTOGRAPHY
PRINCIPLES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
A photograph is both mechanical and
chemical result of photography. To produce a
photograph, light is needed aside from sensitized
materials (film or paper).
Light radiated of reflected by the subject must
reach the film while all other light are excluded. The
exclusion of all other lights is achieved by placing
the film inside a light tight box (camera).
The effect of light on the film is not visible in
the formation of images of objects. To make it
visible, we need or require a chemical processing of
the exposed film called development.
 The visual effect of light on the film after
development varies with quantity or quality of light
that reached the emulsion of the film. Too great in
the amount of light will produce a transparent or
white shade after development.
The amount of light reaching the film is
dependent upon several factors like lightning
condition, lens opening used, shutter speed used,
filters used, etc.
TWO DIVISIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
1. POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY – is the study of the general
practices , methods and steps in taking pictures of the crime
scene physical things and other circumstances that can be used
as criminal evidences or for law enforcement purposes.
2. FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY – the field covering the
legal application of photography in criminal jurisprudence and
criminal investigations. It is a branch of forensic science
dealing with the:
1. Study of fundamental but pragmatic
principles/concepts of photography
2. Application of photography in law enforcement
3. Preparation of photographic evidence needed by
prosecutors and courts of law
 Police photography is an art or science which
deals with the study of the principles of photography,
the preparation of photographic evidence, and its
application to police work.
 Forensic – derived from the Latin word
“Forum” which means “a market place” where
people gathered for public discussion. When used in
conjunction with other science it connotes a
relationship to the administration of justice. It is
sometimes used interchangeably with the word legal.

When using describe something as forensic you

usually mean that it has something to do with finding
evidence to solve a crime.
 Forensic- the application of science to
criminal and civil laws, application of scientific
methods and techniques to the investigation of
crime.
 Forensic Photography - It 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)

- sometimes refer to Crime Scene

Photography, it is an activity that records the initial
appearance of the crime scene and physical
evidence, in order to provide permanent record for
the court.
 Early Criminal Applications
1854 - An English man, Richard Maddox, developed a
dry plate photography eclipsing Daguerre’s wet plate on
tin method. This made practical the photography of
inmates for prison records.

1859 - In the US, one of the earliest applied forensics

science was in photography. It was used to demonstrate
evidence. Enlarge photographs of signature were
presented in a court case involving forgery.
1864 – Odelbercht first advocated the use of
photography for the identification of criminals and the
documentation of evidence and crime scenes.
1882 – Alphonse Bertillon who initiated anthropometric
measurements for personal identification was 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
document.
1910 – Victor Baltazard developed a method of
photographic comparison of bullets and cartridge cases
which act as an early foundation of the field of ballistics.
Take photographs of the following:
1. Crime Scene
2. Suspects
3. Detainees
4. Prisoners
5. Aliens
6. Apprehended persons
7. Applicants for clearances
8. Military and civilian personnel
9. Unknown cadaver
10.Applicants to possess firearm
11. Other physical evidences

- Conduct comparative examination and analysis of

questioned photographs or pictures to the known
photographs.
- Process color and black and white film, print, reduce
and enlarge picture.
- Reproduce picture and other printed matters.
- Compose portrait by means of portrait composition.
- Provides photographic intrusion detection devices.
- Maintain Rogues Gallery (a collection of pictures of
persons arrested as criminals)
 USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY &
APPLICATION TO POLICE WORK

Personal Identification
Personal Identification is considered to
be the first application of photography in
police work. Alphonse Bertillion was the first
police who utilized photography in police
work as a supplementary identification in his
Anthropometry system.
Mug-shot photography
It is the process of taking photographs of
the suspect/s in full length, half body, right and left
side views, and two quarter views.
To unidentified cadavers, include marks on the
victim’s body especially tattoo / scar for
identification.
MUG-SHOT PHOTOGRAPHY
For Communication
Photograph is
considered to be one
of the most universal
methods of
communication
considering that no
other language can be
known universally
than photograph.
For Record Purposes
Considered to be the utmost used of
photography in police work.

• Crime Scenes (Homicide or Murder, Robbery

Cases, Arson, etc.)
• Vehicular Accidents
• Objects of Evidence
• Evidential Traces
For Preservation
Crime scene and other physical
evidence requires photograph for preservation
purposes. Crime scene cannot be retained as is
for a long period of time but through photograph
the initial condition of the scene of the crime can
be preserved properly.
Evidence – Recording & Preserving
Evidence – Recording & Preserving
Evidence –
Recording &
Preserving
For Discovering and Proving
Photography can extend human vision
in discovering and proving things such as;
a. Use of magnification
b. Use of artificial light
 USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
A. The use of Magnification
• Photomicrography - Taking a magnified photograph of
small object through attaching a camera to the ocular of
a compound microscope so as to show the minute
details of the physical evidence.
• Photomacrography - Taking a magnified (enlarged)
photograph of small object by attaching an extended
tube lens (macro lens) to the camera.
• Microphotography - is the process of reducing into a
small strips of film a scenario. It is first used in
filmmaking.
• Macrophotography - used synonymously with
photomacrography. The photography of a subject
where the image is recorded in the same or larger
than actual size. It is the process of obtaining a
magnified photograph of a small object without the
use of a microscope, by using a short focus lens or
macro lens/close-up lens and a long bellow
extension.

• Telephotography - Is the process of taking

photograph of a far object with the aid of a long
focus and Telephoto lens.
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY
MACRO - PHOTOGRAPHY
Macro Photography with powerful magnifier
Macro
Photography
w/ transmitted
light
Macro –
Photograph
y w/ side
lightning
Macro Photography with Infrared
photography
Macro Photography with Poli-light (ALS)
Photomicrography
Telephoto - lens
Summary Table
USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY

B. Used of Artificial Light such as X-ray, Ultra-

violet and Infra-red rays to show something
which may not be visible with the aid of human
eye alone.
Ultra-violet photography
The process of
photographing unseen
objects by the naked eye
with the use of ultra-violet
rays and filters. The main
purpose of this
photography is to provide
information about an
object or materials, which
cannot be obtained by
ordinary photo methods.
Dark Cat
urine
illuminated by
UV light
Human urine illuminated by UV Seminal stain illuminated by
light UV light
Seen under visible light Seen under UV light
Secret writings is revealed when
UV light is applied
Infra-red photography -The
recording of images formed by
infrared radiation.
USES IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT:
1. Questioned document
2. Aerial photography
3. Surveillance photography
4. Detection of gunshot
powder burns, stains and
irregularities in cloth
5. Detection of certain types
of secret writings
Questioned Documents – even crossed-out words or
writings on a charred piece of paper can be read if
photographs of them are taken with infrared rays.
Infra-red photography
Aerial Photography
Aerial Photography
Infrared photography can enhance the contrast of
the terrain
Surveillance Photography
Detection of gun powder burns residue
Detection of secret writings
X-ray Photography – is
widely used in medicine,
industry, and science. It is
quite different from ordinary
photography. X-rays are
invisible electromagnetic
waves. They behave much like
visible light. But they can pass
through things such as wood,
cardboard, and flesh, which
light cannot penetrate.
 USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
For Court Exhibits
Almost all evidence presented in court before
formally 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
Crime Prevention
With the use 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.
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
For Public Information/Public relation
For Police Training
• Prepared Training Films (police tactics,
investigation techniques)
• Traffic Studies
• Documentaries (riots and mob control, disasters,
prison disorders)
EARLY CRIMES INVOLVING PHOTOGRAPHIC
EVIDENCE
• LUCO Vs. US – A photograph was used to prove that a
document of a title for a land grant was in fact a forgery.
• BLAIR Vs. INHABITANTS of Pelham – First recorded use of
accident photography where a photograph was admitted as
evidence in a civil suit involving a train wreck
• REDDEN Vs. GATES – The first case to hold that a relevant
photograph of an injured person was admitted in evidence.
• PEOPLE Vs. JENNINGS – The use of fingerprint photographs
for identification purposes was approved
• STATE Vs. THORP – UV photography was approved
concerning a picture of footprints in blood on a linoleum floor.
 ESSENTIALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Light = is an electromagnetic energy that travels in a
form of a wave with the speed of 186, 000 miles per
second.
Camera = a light tight box designed to block unwanted
or unnecessary light from reaching the sensitized
material.
Lens = is the light gathering mechanism of the camera
that collect the reflected light coming from the object to
form the image.
 ESSENTIALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Sensitized material = composed of a highly
sensitized chemical compound which is capable of
being transformed into an image through the action
of light and with some chemical processes. (Film
and Photo Paper).
Chemical Process = is the process necessary for
reducing silver halides into a form so as a latent
image and a positive image be made resulting to
what we called Photograph.
 BASIC TERMINOLOGIES
1. Light – radiant energy that makes things visible are
classified by the wavelength into a system known as the
electromagnetic spectrum.
2. Photon-Electromagnetic Radiation – energy wave
produced by the oscillation or acceleration of an electric
charge.
3. Electromagnetic Spectrum – whole range of radiant
energy that includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared
light, visible light, UV light, x-rays and gamma rays.
4. Visible Spectrum – a small part of the
electromagnetic spectrum where the visible light
is found; the portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum that affects the human sense of light.
a band of colors, as seen in a rainbow,
produced by separation of the components of
light by their different degrees of refraction
according to wavelength.
5. Visible light – radiation with wavelength
ranging from 400mu to 700mu.

6. Wavelength – distance between two peaks of

a light wave.
7. Frequency – number of complete waves per
unit of time; used in measuring the speed of light

8. Reinforcement – 2 crest meet, the crest of 2

waves have combined to form a high crest.

9. Annulment of Waves – 2 waves meet or

interfere, they reinforce one another at some
points and annul one another at either points
(crest of one wave interfere with the trough of
another)
 End
of
Prelim