CRI 198 Forensic Photography
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography is the process of capturing light to create images. It started with the discovery of the
camera obscura and how some materials change when exposed to light. The word photography
means "drawing with light." Today, photography is widely used for communication and recording
important moments, both on film and digital devices.
IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES:
1. Thomas Wedgewood (1820) – Tried to make the first photo but was not successful.
2. Joseph Niépce (1816) – Took the first real photograph using a method called heliography,
though it needed days of exposure.
3. John Herschel – Created the word "photography", from Greek words meaning light (phos) and
to draw/write (grapho).
4. William Henry Fox Talbot (1839) – Known as the Father of Modern Photography; invented the
calotype, a paper-based method for making negatives.
5. Louis Daguerre (1838-1839) – Improved on Niépce's work and made the first widely used photo
process, the Daguerreotype (metal-based).
6. Frederick Scott Archer – Invented the collodion process, which used glass to create sharp photo
negatives.
7. Edwin H. Land (1947) – Invented the Polaroid camera, which developed photos instantly.
8. Steve Sasson (1975) – Created the first digital camera.
9. Isaac Newton (1666) – Discovered that white light is made of all colors.
10. George Eastman – Invented roll film and made cameras easier to use, leading to the popular
Kodak camera.
Camera Obscura and Camera Lucida
Camera Obscura (13th–14th Century)
* Meaning: From Latin, Camera means "room" and Obscura means "dark" — so it means "dark
room."
* What it is: A dark box or room with a small hole on one side.
* How it works: Light passes through the hole and projects a mirror and upside-down image on the
opposite wall inside the box.
* Why it's important: It was the first tool to show how light can form images, making it the early
version of a modern camera.
* Difference from modern cameras: Camera obscura didn’t capture the image — modern cameras
use mirrors and film (or sensors) to do that.
Camera Lucida (1807)
* Invented by: Sir William Hyde Wollaston.
* What it is: A tool with a prism on a stand that helps artists draw exactly what they see.
* How it works: When looking through the prism, you see the scene in front of you and your hand
on the paper at the same time — making it easy to trace the image.
* Advantages:
* Works in full daylight (no need for darkness like camera obscura).
* Portable and easy to use.
* Great for accurate life-drawing with little practice.
DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS
Photography– The art or science of using light and a camera to create images on special materials
(like film or sensors), often with the help of chemicals.
Forensic– Comes from the Latin word "Forum", meaning a place for public discussion.– In
science, it means something related to law or justice.
Forensic Photography– The use of photography to document crime scenes and evidence for
investigations and court use.
Police Photography– Using photography specifically for police work and helping with law
enforcement.
Photograph– A result of the photographic process (not just any image).– It’s a form of visual
communication that’s understood worldwide, without needing words. It is a language sometimes
defined as the “most universal of all languages”.
4 Key Elements of Photography
1. Light– Can come from natural (sun) or artificial (lamp) sources; it's needed to form an image.
2. Sensitized Materials– Light-sensitive items like film or photographic paper that capture the
image.
3. Camera and Accessories– A light-proof box (camera) that controls how light hits the sensitized
material.
4. Chemical Process– The development process using chemicals to make the image appear and
last on film or paper.– It depends on time, temperature, solution strength, and movement.
MODULE 2
Photography in Law Enforcement
Forensic photography is a branch of forensic science used to document criminals, crime scenes,
victims, and evidence.Although photography was known to be accurate, it wasn't fully trusted in
law enforcement until the late 1800s.As justice systems modernized and people saw how real and
detailed photos could be, photography became a key tool for identifying suspects and supporting
court cases.
Forensic Photography, also known as forensic imaging or crime scene photography, involves using
photography within a legal context to document and preserve crime scenes and evidence. It
combines scientific and artistic methods to create permanent records for court use, with the terms
forensic and police photography often used interchangeably.
A picture is worth a thousand words – Crime scene photographs are crucial for documenting
evidence.
Photography is prioritized – It is one of the first steps in investigating a crime scene.
Integral in trials – Crime scene photographs often serve as primary evidence in court.
Indispensable in investigations – Forensic photography is a vital part of criminal investigations.
Crucial in solving crimes – It plays a key role in bringing offenders to justice.
Essential tool in policing – Photography is not just for evidence; it is integral to forensic science.
Key for modern policing – It is considered essential in various forensic applications beyond just
identifying criminals.
A photograph is the mechanical and chemical product of photography.
Light is essential to create a photograph, along with sensitized materials.
Only the light reflected or emitted by the subject should reach the sensitized material; other light
must be excluded.
Unwanted light is blocked by placing the sensitized material inside a camera.
The amount of light that hits the sensitized material isn't immediately visible.
The image must go through a development process to become visible.
The final image depends on the quantity and quality of light exposure.
More light results in darker (opaque or black) areas after development.
Less light produces lighter (transparent or white) areas.
A full image is formed through varying shades of gray.
Summary: Importance/Significance of Forensic Photography
1. Forensic photography helps capture small but crucial details that investigators might initially
miss.
2. It provides a permanent visual record of the crime scene, which is especially valuable in court,
where legal professionals often haven't visited the scene. As a general rule, take many
photographs of the crime scene and select the best.
3. It aids investigators in recalling and describing specific details and object placements during
court testimony, even months after the investigation.
4. It helps investigators utilize photographic tools and techniques to aid in solving crimes.
Summary: Objectives of Police Photography
1. To create a visual record of all aspects related to the crime.
2. To help police officers accurately remember where items were found.
3. To assist in obtaining confessions, statements, and other information related to the case.
E. BASIC IMPORTANCE OF CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Refresh memory
2. Preserve time and event
3. Save money
F. SPECIFIC APPLICATION
1. Identification photographs
2. Crime scene photography
3. Court presentation
Summary: Basic Importance of Crime Scene Photography
1. Helps refresh the memory of investigators and witnesses.
2. Preserves the details of time, place, and events as they originally occurred.
3. Reduces the need for repeated visits or reconstructions, saving time and money.
Summary: Specific Applications of Forensic Photography
1. Identification photographs – Used for identifying suspects, victims, or evidence.
2. Crime scene photography – Documents the scene and evidence in detail.
3. Court presentation – Provides visual evidence to support testimony and aid the court’s
understanding.
Summary: Photographer in Law Enforcement
In law enforcement, photography is divided into three main roles: lab technicians, crime scene
specialists, and forensic photographers.
Law enforcement photography includes lab technicians, crime scene specialists, and forensic
photographers. A photographer in this field is detail-oriented, logical, and focused on precision.
They value technical accuracy, organized work, and realistic images, preferring practical over
artistic photography.
Short Summary: Types of Photographers in Law Enforcement
1. Lab Technician – Develops film, prints photos, and manages photo records.
2. Crime Scene Specialist – Photographs and documents crime scenes, collects evidence, and
assists with autopsy photos.
3. Forensic Photographer – Uses advanced techniques for specialized photography, like UV or
Luminol imaging.
MODULE 3
Light is a form of radiant electromagnetic energy that travels in waves. It moves at approximately
186,000 miles per second in air and varies in wavelength and frequency. According to the wave
theory, which is commonly used to explain light's behavior, it takes about 8 minutes for sunlight to
reach Earth.
Wavelength and Frequency
* Wavelength is the distance between the crests (highest points) of two consecutive waves.
* Frequency is the number of waves that pass a specific point in one second.
Theories of Light
1. Wavelength Theory (James Maxwell) – Describes light as waves spreading out from a source,
similar to ripples in water. It helps explain phenomena like reflection, refraction, diffraction,
interference, and polarization, and is important in lens design.
2. Quantum Theory (Max Planck) – Proposes that light is made of energy packets called quanta or
photons. When photons hit a light-sensitive surface, they transfer energy to electrons, explaining
effects like photoelectric current and X-rays.
Four Photographic Rays
1. X-rays – Wavelength: 0.1 to 30 nanometers; produced using a vacuum tube; used for
radiographic imaging.
2. Ultraviolet (UV) Rays – Wavelength: 30 to 400 milli-microns; used to photograph fingerprints,
altered documents, and secret writings.
3. Visible Light (White Light) – Wavelength: 400 to 700 milli-microns; the range visible to the
human eye.
4. Infrared (IR) Rays – Wavelength: 700 to 1000 milli-microns; used to capture obliterated writing,
burnt or dirty documents, and in blackout photography.
MODULE 4
EFFECTS OF LIGHT WHEN IT HITS AN OBJECT
When a light wave hits an object, what happens to it depends on the energy of the light wave, the
natural frequency at which electrons vibrate in the material and the strength with which the atoms
in the material hold on to their electrons. Based on these three factors, four different things can
happen when light hits an object:
1. The waves can be reflected or scattered off the object.
2. The waves can be absorbed by the object.
3. The waves can be refracted through the object.
4. The waves can pass through the object with no effect.
RAT Law – When light interacts with an object, it can be:
1. Reflected
2. Absorbed
3. Transmitted
General Types of Light:
1. Visible Light – Wavelength between 400–700 nanometers (nm); detectable by the human eye.
2. Invisible Light – Light with wavelengths shorter (e.g., ultraviolet) or longer (e.g., infrared) than
visible light.
Visible Light Waves
Visible light waves are the only electromagnetic waves visible to the human eye, appearing as the
colors of the rainbow. Each color has a unique wavelength—red has the longest, and violet the
shortest. When combined, they form white light, which can be separated into individual colors by a
prism or water vapor, as seen in a rainbow.
White Light
White light is perceived when all wavelengths from 400–700 nm reach the eye in nearly equal
amounts. When passed through a prism, it separates into the visible spectrum, with shorter
wavelengths bending more than longer ones—creating the rainbow colors. White light is the
combination of all colors, while black is the absence of color. Dividing visible light into three main
ranges gives us blue, green, and red.
Properties of Light
1. Reflection
• It is the deflection or bouncing back of light when it hits a surface.
a. Regular
Happens when light hits a flat, smooth and shiny surface.
b. Irregular of diffused
Occurs when light hits a rough or uneven but glossy object.
2. Refraction
• The bending of light when passing from one medium to another.
3. Diffraction
• The bending of light when it hits a sharp edge opaque object.’
4. Rectilinear
• The nature of light that normally travels in straight line.
5. Interference
• Color can be produced by interference of light waves in thin film like in soap bubbles or a film of
oil floating
in water.
• The light reflected from the top surface of such a film undergoes a reversal or phase but light
reflected
from the bottom of the surface does not undergo this type of change.
6. Absorption
• The nature of light to be absorbed in the process of dark surface.
7. Filtration
• The character of light to be altered from its colorless into visible state.
8. Polarization
• The process by which the vibration of light is confined to a definite plane, and the speed of light
can be measured.
9. Fluorescence
• These happen when molecules of the fluorescent material absorb energy at one wavelength and
radiate it at another wavelength.
Natural light comes from sources like the sun, moon, stars, and lightning. Sunlight intensity varies
with weather, time of day, and season, affecting exposure in photography. The type of shadow cast
is used to judge lighting conditions:
* Bright Sunlight – Sharp, dark shadows
* Hazy Sunlight – Light, transparent shadows
* Dull Sunlight – No shadows
* Cloudy Bright – No shadows, but distant objects are clear
* Cloudy Dull – No shadows, and distant visibility is reduced
Artificial light sources are man-made and are classified into continuous radiation and short
illumination:
1. Continuous Radiation – Provides continuous illumination.
2. Short Illumination (Flash Unit) – Brief flashes of light produced by:
* Flash Bulb (now obsolete)
* Electronic Flash (popular and efficient, powered by batteries for convenience in the field)
How Objects Behave to Light
1. Transparent Object – Allows sufficient light to pass through, making the object on the other side
clearly visible.
2. Translucent Object – Allows light to pass through but diffuses it, making the object on the other
side difficult to distinguish.
3. Opaque Object – Does not allow light to pass through, making it impossible to see objects on
the other side.
Forensic Light Sources
Forensic light sources are used to enhance the visibility of evidence using filtered white light:
1. Ultra Violet Lamp – Available in various shapes, sizes, and power levels. Portable and battery-
operated, it is useful for fieldwork.
2. Laser – Light amplification through stimulated emission of radiation. Lasers cause certain items
to fluoresce or stand out, helping locate dried biological stains. However, lasers are expensive.
3. Alternative Light Source (ALS) – A more affordable option to lasers, ALS uses band-pass filters
to provide a high-intensity beam of non-coherent light.
