CSI Photo Chapter 2

Briefly explain why photography can be considered to be both a scientific enterprise and an artistic expression of the photographer

Scientific- Mechanics of determining a proper exposure. More like a mathematical equation

Artistic- creative expression of the photographer

Can a properly exposed crime scene photograph still be unsuccessful? Why?

If it is not in focus from the foreground to the background, it is not useful. Depth of field always needs to be considered

How can the photographer’s viewpoint affect whether an image correctly depicts the spatial relationship between two objects?

Keep the film plane parallel. This eliminates perspective distortion where one item looks closer to another than it really is.

How can both ambient and flash shadows be controlled?

Sunlight- Reposition your body to fully cover the evidence items or try to have the scene shadow-free

Flash- alter the flash head position or remove the flash and use a remote flash cord to place in different locations

Use-once camera vs Professional camera system

how the viewfinder is used

Cardinal rules

#1 Fill the frame

#2 Maximize depth of field

#3 Keep the film plane parallel

#1 Fill the frame

Get closer to the primary subject

Eliminate the irrelevant

If it is in the image, you are intentionally putting it there

Shadow control

Lens Flare

#2 Maximize depth of field

reciprocal exposure - use the smallest aperture for a larger depth of field range

Hyperfocal focus - maximized depth of field in large outdoor scenes

Zone focus- focus by rules of thirds

Perfocus - for evidence 1:1 shots

#3 Keep the film plane parallel

Overall - Building and walls are best photographed with the film plane parallel to those surfaces

Midrange- the fixed feature and the evidence are the same distance from you (isosceles triangle), parallel to the imaginary line connecting them (Diagonal)

Close-up - Need to be right over the item or it can not be used for comparison