Digital Crime Scene Photography Pt. 1

Digital Crime Scene Photography

Photography Basics

The goal of digital crime scene photography is to gain proficiency with a Nikon Digital Single Lens Reflex camera to obtain forensic and court-quality photographs. These photographs are used to document crime scenes and memorialize evidentiary items. The key question to address is: How do I take quality and accurate photographs?

Importance of Photography

Documenting a scene through photography is a crucial aspect of the overall crime scene processing methodology. There is only one chance to document an undisturbed scene, so it is essential to do it right.

Recommended Equipment

  • Batteries (flash & camera)

  • Camera

  • External Flash

  • Filters

  • Tripod

  • Scales

  • Evidence markers

  • Placards/ID signs

  • Clipboard

  • Pen/pencil/marker

Required Photographs

Placard/Identifier

Include details such as:

  • DATE/TIME

  • AGENCY

  • CASE #

  • PHOTO TAKEN BY

Search Authorization

It is a best practice to completely photograph your warrant right after your 18% placard. This allows the officer to include legal justification and authorization for the search in their photos, and documents when the search warrant was executed.

It is also a best practice to photograph the return & inventory in the place you left it.

Location Photos (Overall)

These photos depict the location of the scene, including:

  • Maps

  • Street signs and/or cross street intersections

  • Exterior shot of buildings with addresses

  • Mailboxes

  • Doorways and other entrances of crime scene

Location Photos (Overall) should include

  • Street signs and/or intersections

  • Exterior shot of Building with addresses

  • Doorways or other entrances of the crime scene

Mid-Range Photographs

  • May show entrance to a specific room or residence

  • General view of the scene but closer than overall

  • Should be seen from different angles to get full scene coverage of room

  • Photographs should show overall placement of evidence in relation to scene (use different angles)

First Series Without Evidence Markers

The first series of mid-range photographs should be taken WITHOUT a marker (known as virgin scene photos). This helps identify the scene prior to processing.

  • Taken in sequential order around the scene so that a panoramic view of the scene can be constructed when photos are printed.

  • Taken from every corner.

  • Taken in sequential order around the crime scene, moving clockwise or counterclockwise throughout the process.

Second Series With Evidence Markers

  • The investigator determines what items will be photographed as evidence.

  • Place evidence markers near each item, but do NOT disturb the evidence.

  • Do NOT block the view of the item in the photograph.

  • Do NOT remove the marker once it has been placed in the image for mid-range photographs.

  • Helps the audience (court) realize where evidence is located within the scene.

  • Mid-range photographs with markers should be taken in sequential order around the crime scene, moving entirely clockwise or counterclockwise throughout the process whenever possible

Close-Up Photographs

Stop working sequentially around the room. Begin photographing each piece of evidence individually as you take close-up photos.

Close-ups are images of individual pieces of evidence compared to mid-range.

  • Used to show what evidence looked like on scene prior to packing or processing

  • Typically used for forensic examinations/comparisons & need to be as perfect in composition as possible

  • Two Types of Close-Up Photographs

    • WITH SCALE

    • WITHOUT SCALE

Third series Close-up without scale

  • Taken at a full-frame 90-degree angle. Reduces chance of altering the size of image & reducing area, that could be out of focus for close-up/macro/micro

  • Photograph as close as possible but ensure you do NOT cut of any part of item

After satisfied with close-ups, place your scale.

Fourth series Close-up with scale

  • Place scale on the same plane as the evidence being photographed to depict the item’s size accurately.

  • When photographing weapon evidence close-up with a scale, ensure the scale is positioned at the “business end” of the weapon.

Additional Photographs & Exit Strategy

Additional photographs may be needed of items after collection, but before packaging. Take as many photographs as needed until YOU are satisfied.

  • Are taken following the final walk-through but prior to releasing the scene

  • This is also where you photograph the Return & Inventory of items seized during the search

  • The final photograph is a placard photograph to serve as a “book-end”

  • Once all evidence has been collected, 360°mid-range exit photographs should be taken depicting the scene post-processing

Specific Evidence: Firearms

Items of evidence at a crime scene can vary from irregularly shaped objects to items with fixed points and identifiers. Items commonly found at crime scenes include:

  • Firearms

  • Knives & stabbing/cutting implements

  • Currency

  • Illegal narcotics & pharmaceuticals

  • Blood

  • Latent prints

Firearms Considerations

  • Treated as if they are loaded

  • Often contains additional evidence i.e., fingerprints, blood etc

  • Photographed as one item of evidence

  • Photograph all details of the item

  • Extreme care should be used while unloading the firearm to ensure any possible evidence is not destroyed

  • Mid-range photographs should be taken without evidence markers and then with evidence markers.

  • Close-up photographs of firearms should be taken full-frame 90°close-up with scale (and evidence marker).

  • Place the scale at the muzzle of the firearm.

For semi-automatic firearms:

  • Remove magazine from firearm

  • Hold weapon in one hand, position magazine’s feed lips towards the photographer, document if the magazine was loaded or unloaded

  • Retract the slide just enough to photographically document if there is a bullet casing in the chamber

  • Retract slide fully, locking it to the rear

  • If a bullet ejects, photograph the bullet showing it is a live round or spent casing

For a revolver, open cylinder & lower the crane.