Transcript PowerPoint document

Introduction to Incident Scene
Photography
New Mexico State Police
Criminal Investigations Section
Crime Scene Team
Learning Objectives
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Identify the requirements for a photo to be
admissible in a court of law
Identify the elements of a good, technical
photograph
Learning Objectives
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Identify the elements of technical photography
Demonstrate how to properly photograph
footwear impressions
Demonstrate how to properly photograph tire
impressions
Demonstrate how to properly photograph latent
prints
Introduction to Incident Scene
Photography
Introduction
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For police officers, photography has become the
primary way of documenting crime & traffic
collision scenes.
Photography is a combination of art & science.
Why Take Photographs At A Crime
Scene?
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Photographs document the scene in a way
people can understand.
Photographs can be used to recreate the crime
and to prove or disprove a suspect’s explanation.
They can help a jury understand where and how
the crime was committed.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
To Be Admissible in Court
Fair
Not
biased or prejudicial
Must not appeal to the emotions of the jury
Accurate
Technically
correct
Form, Tone, Color and Scale
To Be Admissible in Court
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Relevant
 Of
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value to the court and jury in making
decisions
Chain of Custody must be maintained
The photo must be identified
 Introduced in court by a person who is qualified to
identify it
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NM DPS Digital Imaging Policy
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Capture
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Take pictures in accordance with the manufacture's
instructions, DPS policy and your training and
experience.
Do not view the images (other than by the camera's
built-in monitor) prior to the images being
transferred to CD.
Storage
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Store the images onto a permanent media (CD) as
soon as possible. Once the images are stored onto a
CD, the CD will be treated as original evidence...
NM DPS Digital Imaging Policy
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The CD should be labeled with a permanent (Sharpie) marker:
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Case #
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Item #
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Photographer's name
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Date images were captured & date transferred to disc
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Location where the images were captured
Dissemination and image enhancement
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Before any enhancements are made, you must make a working
copy of the CD.
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An “Image-Processing Log" shall be kept for enhancements.
The log will detail all steps used to obtain the enhanced image.
The software (& version) shall be documented.
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Software shall be generally or scientifically accepted in the
photography community as a valid tool for enhancement.
Labeling the Disc as Evidence
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Label as
Original
Case#
Item#
Case Agent
Description
Date taken
Date to disc
Photographer
Elements of a Good, Technical
Photograph
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Must be correctly exposed
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Have maximum depth of field
Have an accurate perspective
Be in sharp focus
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Impression Evidence
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Orientation (overview and midrange shots)
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Show where the impression is located in the crime
scene.
Close-up
Use a scale on the same plane as the impression.
 Keep the film plane parallel to the plane of the
impression
 MUST USE A TRIPOD
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Lighting
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Block out ambient light with a large piece of
cardboard and use a strong light source at oblique
angle to show the best detail in the impression.
Footwear Impression
@ 90°
Tire Impressions
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Photograph tire impressions in sections showing
one circumference of the tire.
Taking overlapping photographs, with a tape
measure, parallel to the tire impression.
Tire Impressions
Photography of Very Important
Vehicles
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Exterior Photos
Use the “21 point” method
Sometimes it is not possible to get all 21 photos
 Do your best
 If you have multiple vehicles involved in a crash
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Take the standard over-view photos of the ENTIRE
scene first
 Then, take 21 photos of each vehicle individually
 Then, take mid-range and close-up photos of the evidence
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21 Point Method
Edge
Front
Edge
Diagonal
Diagonal
Front Edge
Front Edge
Front Axle
Front Axle
Side
Side
Rear Axle
Rear Axle
Rear Edge
Rear Edge
Diagonal
Edge
Rear
Edge
Diagonal
These 20 Photos + 1 Photo Directly Down = 21 Photos
Begin by Taking Over-view Photos of the Scene
Then, Take 21 Photos of Each Vehicle
Example of 21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
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You will not be able to
get all 21 shots due to
the position of the
vehicles
Just do your best
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Tread Pattern
Fingerprints
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Should be photographed before lifting
Orientation shot to show location
Consider using black & white film for greater
contrast
Macro or close-up lens
Scale on the same plane must be used
90 degree shot
Use a tripod
Fingerprints
Tool marks & serial numbers
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Orientation photo
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Evidence at the scene
Close-up photos
Use a scale on the same plane as the evidence
 90 degree photo
 Oblique light to create small shadows in the detail
 Use a tripod.
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Serial Number
Toolmarks
Impression Evidence
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Orientation
 Show where the impression is located in the overall
crime scene.
Lighting
 Block out the ambient light with an umbrella and use
a strong light source at an oblique angle to show the
best details.
Close-up
 Use a scale on the same plane as the impression.
 Keep the film plane 90° to the impression
 Consider using a tripod
Footwear Impression
Tire Impressions
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Photograph tire impressions in sections showing
one circumference of the tire.
Taking overlapping photographs, with a tape
measure, parallel to the tire impression.
Keep the film plane 90° to the impression
Tire Impressions
Photography of Bloodstains
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Use color film
Take orientation photos to show location
Take close-up photos to show detail
Keep the film plane 90° to the print
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L-shape ruler is preferred to get both width and
length of stain
Consider using a tripod
Photography of Bloodstains
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Use bounced lighting or diffused light.
Oblique lighting works best when dealing with
stains on fabric (very low angles).
May need additional magnification
A macro lens or the macro feature on the camera
 A step-up lens
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Overview, midrange, close up
Photos of bloodstains
Bloodstains @ 90° To the Floor
Bloodstains @ 90° to Wall
Low Light Photography Issues
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We often need to photograph scenes in low light, the following
is an overview.
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The CSI Effect means that Juries no longer rely on just your
word. They want to see what you saw.
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Your ability to shoot in low light will depend on
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Ambient light
Your photography equipment
Lighting Equipment that you can supply
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DWI equipment, etc.
Other resources available to you
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Fire Department lighting equipment, etc.
One Flash
Flash + Existing Light
Flash & flashlight uses
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Bounce flash
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Fill flash
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Painting with light
Flashlight
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To fill the shadow/shaded area
Multiple flash
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Light is bounced off white, reflective surface
Painting with light
Direct
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One or more light sources at 45 degree angles
Flash Photography
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Direct reflective
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Oblique lighting
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Light source at low angle, usually to show detail by creating shadows in
the subject surface
Diffused lighting
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Light is reflected directly off the subject into lens, and causes very high
contrast
An translucent material is placed between the light source and subject
Transmitted lighting
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With transparent subjects the light source is transmitted through the
subject toward the lens
No Flash vs. Multiple Flash
No Flash vs. Multiple Flash
1, 2 & Multiple Flash
The basics of low light photos
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Put your camera on a tripod
or sturdy surface
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Put you camera on a manual
type setting (M)
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turn your car off if that is what
you are using
Set the aperture (A) as low as it
will go
Set the shutter speed (S, Tv) as
slow as it will go
Turn on the timer function,
turn off the flash
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The flash will automatically
make the shutter speed too fast
for this.
The basics of low light photos
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Light up the scene with a flashlight,
and focus the camera.
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Press the button to take the photo, and
when the shutter opens (you hear the
click)
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Shine as many lights into the scene
from as many different angles as you
can until the shutter closes (it clicks
again)
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Don’t shine the light toward your
camera.
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Off shoe flashes are best, incandescent
bulb flashlights are OK, LEDs are not
so good (beam of light is too focused)
Look at the back of your camera to see
if you need more or less light, and take
more photos.
PHOTOS OF A.L.S. AND LUMINOL
The rules are different for these photos. They require additional training
and experience to do them correctly
The End