Crime Scene Photography

Photography has always played a very important part in policing. In fact, photographs have many
different functions in policing. It acts as a tool to solve crimes, when it can be used as evidence against a
criminal. It also helps to deter crime when it is used as a public awareness medium. However, the recent
developments in photography have revolutionized policing and offers many advantages to the law
enforcers to solve crimes.

Photos taken during Investigation

As a photographer, it is really important to take photos of the actual crime scene. Because there is a
evidence that can be only seen through camera because some evidence cannot be seen thru our naked
eyes. As you can see in the photos above, the photographer taking a picture of every single detail that
can/will stand as evidence or will help to solve and the investigation.

As a photographer, this kind of physical evidence such as weapons need a close-up shoot to determine
what kind of weapon is it. After you take a picture, you will mark it by encircling of chalk and putting
number signs so will have a standard step of collecting and gathering evidences. It is necessary to use
gloves so you can’t contaminate the raw evidences and the crime scene together with the collected
physical evidence will remain clean. Police photographers play a crucial role in criminal investigations.
The photographs they take at crime scenes create a permanent record of the scene and the evidence
found there, which both detectives and prosecutors rely on. Since we, humans don’t have a infinite
memory to store or sometimes we forgot some details, with the help of Photography the Police officers
can store them infinitely and so on they will not miss any chance to preserve the evidence.

FILTERS

Filter is not that really necessary in Police Photography but with the use of it, you can enhance the
image you will capture. There is so many filters that you can use in photography for example the yellow
filter, if you use it you will enhance the shade of yellow object on the image while the other color will
turn into shad e of grey.
 THINGS TO DO IN CRIME SCENE:

 Identify Scene Dimensions

1. Locate at the focal point of the scene.

2. Establish a perimeter large enough to contain relevant evidence.

 Establish Security

1. Tape around the perimeter.

2. Depending of the number of people, consider security guards.

 Create a Plan and Communicate

1. Determine the type of crime that occurred.

 2. Identify any threats to evidence, such as weather.
3. Consider if additional resources are necessary
4. Communicate with your team about how to proceed

 Conduct Primary Survey

1. Identify Potential Evidence.

2. Capture Photographs and take good notes.

An investigation interview is designed to gather information about an incident and find the
truth, not necessarily to elicit a confession or eliminate someone as a suspect.
 Document and Process Scene

1. Using the plan from step three, begin processing the scene.
2. Collect all Evidence and keep detailed documentation.
Collecting all evidence is very fundamental in crime scene investigation because it the only way
to solve the case and prove what is realyy true.
 In documenting the scene there are actually 3 functions or methods used to properly
document the crime scene. Those methods consist of written notes which will ultimately be used
in constructing a final report, crime scene photographs, and a diagram or sketch. Consistency
between each of these functions is paramount.

 Conduct Secondary Survey

1. Conduct another walkthrough to ensure everything has been processed and

recorded.

As you can see on the picture above, the officer is note taking and collecting the information that
witnesses possessed. It can help to determine what is really happened and can help the case
solve faster.

 Record and Preserve Evidence

2. Use an Inventory log to account for all evidence.

3. Create through descriptions that match photographs taken at the scene.
4. Follow a clear chain custody throughout the investigation.
Once the crime scene has been thoroughly documented and the locations of the evidence noted, then
the collection process can begin. The collection process will usually start with the collection of the most
fragile or most easily lost evidence.