CRJ 211 : Class Notes Photography

Class Overview

  • Discussion on upcoming classes and schedule.

    • Chapters five and six will be covered today.

    • No class next week due to scheduled exam.

    • Future classes will include guest speakers focused on photography.

Importance of Photography in Crime Scene Investigation

  • Photography is a critical skill in scene documentation.

  • Recommended for aspiring crime scene specialists to take forensic photography classes.

    • Forensic photography differs in methodology from artistic photography.

  • Photos serve three main purposes in investigations:

    • Reconstruction: Helps in reconstructing a crime scene for analysis.

    • Recall: Assists investigators in recalling details from numerous cases.

    • Court Evidence: Provides visual evidence for jury members who were not present at the crime scene.

Types of Cameras and Equipment

  • Variety of cameras available but quality varies with price.

    • High-end DSLR cameras can cost around $3,000.

    • Lesser quality point-and-shoot cameras can be bought for a couple of hundred dollars.

  • DSLR cameras are vital for taking comparative quality photographs, which allow for resizing of the images to a 1:1 scale.

    • Comparisons are essential for evidence such as shoe and tire impressions, and fingerprints.

Key Camera Settings

  • Understanding the three main settings in photography:

    • Aperture: Size of the lens opening that controls light intake; affects exposure and depth of field.

      • Larger apertures (smaller f-stop numbers) allow more light, while smaller apertures do the opposite.

    • Shutter Speed: Speed at which the camera's shutter opens and closes; affects motion blur.

      • Higher shutter speeds capture fast-moving objects with less light; slower speeds need tripods to avoid blur.

    • ISO: Measures the camera's sensitivity to light, higher ISO settings are used for low-light conditions but increase graininess.

Effective Photographing Techniques

  • Importance of taking clear and accurate photographs:

    • Overall photos, mid-range photos, and close-ups must be sufficiently taken to provide context and detail of evidence.

    • Use of context in photographs enables juries to understand the scene accurately.

    • Avoid missing crucial individual photographs that may be important for the case.

Available Light and Ambient Light Photography

  • Use available light photography to show the scene as it was during the incident, particularly in nighttime situations.

    • Captures the conditions for witness accounts.

  • Ambient light photography uses the camera settings to enhance visibility in dark areas, allowing photographs to appear bright even in low-light conditions.

    • Time-consuming but essential for capturing evidence in dark environments.

Specialized Photography Techniques

  • Use of infrared (IR) photography:

    • Captures details that are not visible to the naked eye, such as blood stains on dark fabrics or gunshot residue (GSR).

    • Requires either an IR camera or a filter on a regular camera; long exposures are often necessary.

  • Forensic quality photographs with special techniques like oblique lighting are necessary for detailed evidence such as shoe or tire impressions.

Types of Photographs Taken at a Crime Scene

  • Overall Photographs: Provide context of the entire scene.

  • Mid-range Photographs: Focus on evidence but still include context (landmarks).

  • Close-up Photographs: Capture specific details of evidence (e.g., serial numbers on objects).

Conclusion

  • Correct photographic techniques are crucial for properly documenting crime scenes and gathering quality evidence for investigations and trials.

  • Emphasis on training individuals adequately in photography techniques to ensure clarity and detail in evidence documentation.