PHOTOGRAPHY

Class of 2024
(Week 3)
Application of photography in police work
“Every difficult endeavor requires the integration of two important areas so success can
be obtained the theory and practice.” There is almost always a tendency to disregard
the theoretical aspects associated with a special problem so that the practical
considerations can be studied. Without the sound framework relating to the significant
theory background of any problem, it is virtually impossible to ensure that the finish
product is the best possible one which can be obtained under a given set of
circumstances.
Photography has and still continues to serve a wide variety of functions in our criminal
justice system will depend on the size of the organization, its financial capabilities, the
enthusiasm, imagination and skills of its personnel.
Listed are some applications which are subject of our brief discussion and for practical
and for practical exercises during laboratory work to build the basic foundation of the
skills of the beginner and one who is already in the practice for forensic photography.
1. Identification purposes
a. Prisoners, persons subject of investigation
b. Unidentified cadavers (victims of crimes, traffic accidents, airline crash,
collapsed of the big buildings, shipwrecks, stampede, explosions, natural
calamities, tidal waves, massive flood, etc.)
c. Missing persons (for publication and alert warnings)
d. Lost or stolen properties (work of art like paintings, sculpture, icons, antiques,
expensive jewelries, rare coins or books, etc.)
e. Civilian (police clearances for employment, travel abroad, other purposes)
2. Recording and preserving of evidences
a. Crime scenes (homicide or murder, theft or robbery, arson, other crimes listed
in the RPC as well as other special laws (organized or syndicated crimes,
cyber- space or computer crimes)
b. Traffic accidents
c. Objects of evidences (guns, bullet or shell, knife, clothing, shoes, other
personal belongings, etc.)
d. Evidential traces (fingerprints, shoe or tire prints, bloodstains and other body
fluids, tool marks, bomb or explosive residues, etc.)
3. Discovering and proving of evidences not readily seen by the naked eye
a. Contrast control by lighting, use of filters, use of different films and papers
b. Magnification or enlargements of tiny objects by the application of
photomacrography or macrophotography

 Photomicrography- is the taking of photograph through a microscope.

The camera is attached to the eyepiece and it is the lens of the
microscope that is the lens of the microscope that is used in
photographing.
 Photomacrography os Macrophotography- is the taking of photograph
with a short focus lens. It is the extreme close-up of all objects to
photographed to 1:1 or an actual size or slightly bigger.
 Microphotography- is the taking of photograph of an object in a much
reduces size or tiny images of large objects, for example, a microfilm.
c. Use of invisible radiation like X- rays, Ultraviolet rays and Infrared rays.
4. Recording action of offenders
a. Surveillance
b. Entrapment
c. Extra- judicial confession
 d. Re- enactment of crime
5. For court exhibits
a. Individual photographs
b. Slide projections
c. Comparison charts
d. Motion picture or video coverage/presentation
6. For crime prevention, Visual presentation for lectures on traffic education, modus
operandi snatchers and hold-uppers, business establishments (banks, hotels)
and industrial security complex.
7. Public information, Photographs for press release, posters of wanted criminals,
crime alerts, etc.
8. Police training, prepared training films or video presentations of personnel
indoctrination, police tactics, investigative techniques, traffic control, civil
disturbances, control riots or prison disorders, documentaries for pre and post
briefings on police operations etc.
Specific Applications
1. Identification photographs, an identification photographs should be an accurate
likeness of the subject from which he can be recognized by witnesses or police
officers. It should strive to reproduce every mole, scar, wrinkles and other marks
which will help identify the subject.
2. Identification of data, a small sign is usually placed at the scene but its data
should be limited to the date, time, location and case or job number.
3. Location markers, these can be sticks or numbered signs to show specific
locations of small objects not readily seen in an over all photograph. In selecting
a marker, avoid using an article which resembles an object that is originally found
in the scene.
Specific Crimes
1. Homicide or Murder, photographs should provide information concerning the
manner and cause of death of the victim.
 Manner of death- explain how the crime took place, show from several
angles the whole scene and all possible elements of the crime.
 Caused of Death
a. Crimes involving firearms
b. Hanging
c. Drowning
d. By electrocution
e. Explosion
2. Robbery case
a. General view of the exterior of the building
b. Points of break or entry
c. Point of exit
d. Condition of the room. Be aware of characteristics patterns which will indicate
modus- operandi
e. Places were valuable materials were removed
f. Articles left behind like bulglary tools (crowbars,metal saw, metal file screw
drivers, etc.)
g. Trace evidence like fibers adhering on window frames, soils, cigarette butts,
burned matches, powders, toolmarks, shoe or footprints, fingerprints which
include the places where they are found or developed.
3. Sex offenses, photograph to be taken are the place of incidence, signs of
struggle or resistance on the part of the victim and objects of evidence.
4. Arson or Fire
5. Traffic Vehicular Accident, showing the location and the position of vehicles to
determine their participation in an accident.
 6. Articles or Objects of evidence, important items of evidence are usually
photographed individually at the crime scene to serve as a permanent record of
the original appearance of the object and it can lessen unnecessary handling that
can cause alteration.
Surveillance Photography
 To gather pertinent facts or information or evidence of illegal acts of persons
 To record an act or activity
 To identify a person or place
 Secrecy requirement
Fingerprint Photography, Fingerprint is a record of the pattern of friction ridges of the
skin of the fingers;
 Makes a permanent records of fingerprints
 Bring out faint fingerprints which cannot be studied by the naked eye
 Magnify a fingerprint to almost any extent desired
 Comparison of two fingerprints
Questioned Document Photography, magnification of handwriting or typewriting
Ultraviolet Photography, using ultraviolet rays
Basic Rules on Admissibility
It is an established fact that a photograph offered in evidence should be a true and
faithful representation of the scene or subject matter. The person viewing should get an
impression of the scene or object which does not mislead in any important aspect.
In City of Manila vs Cabangis 10 Phil 151 a photograph is admissible in evidence upon
proof of exactness and accuracy. That the photograph is a true and faithful
representation of the subject as seen by the naked eye.
The court has taken judicial notice of photographic process as being capable of
producing an accurate representation because as Justice Sison of the Supreme Court
has ruled;
“that the process by which the lens of a camera forms a image are dependent upon or
governed by the same natural law as an image by the human eye”
Qualified to show proof of faithfulness are;
a. Photographer who took the photograph
b. Any other person who has personal knowledge of the taking of the photograph
and have seen the subject
A. Techniques for Demonstrating Evidence Prints
1. Composite Exhibits, consists of two photographs placed side by side to show
points of similarities or differences. This used in the comparison of fingerprint or
handwriting.
2. Matching Photographs, illustrating similarities, place a part of one photograph
over and in careful alignment with the other.
3. Matching transparencies, used to show two objects have identical outline, used
in tool marks shells, pair illustrations or in matching glass fragments.
B. Degree of enlargement or size of a photographic exhibit
There are two choices in representing photographic prints as evidence.
1. A large display print which will easily show the judge, the lawyers detailed
attributes of a subject being testified to by a witness. Forensic experts like
document examiners or fingerprint experts use this to provide a dramatic impact
on their testimony. Print sizes of 11”x14” or even 16”x24”.
2. A more widely used and easier to accomplish is the handled print of persons,
objects, place or incident. The usual size maybe 4”x5” or 5”x7”.
 C. Perspective, Correct Viewing Distance, Normal Viewing Distance
To achieve the perspective, you must consider the geometric relationship between the
camera and the object at the time the picture was taken. From a fixed vantage point, an
object or series intersect at the same angle at a lens regardless of the focal length of
the lens. If the same regular relationship is established between the finished print and
the viewers eye, the print will be viewed correctly and the eye will see the scene in its
true perspective.
Correct viewing distance- to produce the same angular relationship established by the
camera position, the eyes must be on lens focal-length from a contact print of the
camera negative. For enlargement for negative, the viewing distance must be increased
to to view the print in true perspective. The viewing distance for any enlarged print is
equal to the lens focal length multiplied by the number of times the negative is enlarged
or viewing distance (D) equal focal length (F) times enlargement (N). D= FxN
Normal viewing distance- we must also consider the comfort of viewer and the print will
finally be viewed and that is handled. According to vision tests, an average person’s
holds an object or reading material about 15 inches (about 40 centimeters) from his eye
and this distance is widely accepted as the normal viewing distance for handled
materials.
N= D/F
Testifying in court, “Man of Science” if the law made you a witness, remain a man of
science, you have no victim to avenge, no guilty or innocent person to ruin or save, you
must be witness within the limits of science.
In the field of photography, a global revolution is also taking place and at very fast rate.
Because of the diversity of equipment and technology available, digital photography is
becoming more popular than conventional photography.
Digital cameras offer features and convenience unheard of in a film-based camera like;
a. Instant color preview
b. Computer connectivity
c. Video output
d. Detachable lenses that still work when detached
On the other hand, disadvantage of digital imaging is its ability to be easily manipulated
while conventional photography will continue to be the prevailing format utilized through
the traditional print, negative and slide which can be scanned into digital format for
convenient access. Truthfulness and accuracy are the criteria in forensic photography.
Two types of Digital Camera
a. Fixed memory- limited in the number of images they can capture
b. Removable memory- allow the user to load and replace a variety of storage
cards
Uses of Digital Photography in Law Enforcement
a. Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)
b. Crime scene reconstruction- use of scientific method, physical evidence and
inductive reasoning and their inter relationship to gain explicit knowledge of
series of events that surrounds the commission of a crime.
c. Computerized Composite Facial Sketching- Facial Automated Composite and
Editing System (FACES); facial composition, cranial facial reconstruction of
 deceased persons with mutilated face, facial image enhancement, missing
person photograph update and image demographic database and retrieval.
Rules on Electronic Evidence
Rule 11 of RA 8792 otherwise known as “E Commerce Law” (Rules on Electronic
Evidence)
SECTION 1. Audio, video and similar evidence. - Audio, photographic and video
evidence of events, acts or transactions shall be admissible provided it shall be shown,
presented or displayed to the court and shall be identified, explained or authenticated by
the person who made the recording or by some other person competent to testify on the
accuracy thereof.