LAW ENFORMENT PHOTOGRAPHY
emotions or tend to prejudice the court.
 As early as the 1840s in Brussels, police used
photographs to keep track of criminals. Such
photographs, or mug shots, are an essential tool
for police investigators.
 A variety of different formats have been used
including, most recently, digital images and
there is no single universal system employed
throughout the world. Digital mug shot have
the advantage of being instantly transmittable
anywhere in the world via the internet.
FUNDAMENTALS OF POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY
Police photography or, more accurately, forencis
photography would be used to:
1. Take pictures of a crime scene
2. Take pictures of evidence
3. Take pictures of injuries
Basic Reasons of Photographing the Crime Scene
• To record the scene and associated areas,
• To record the appearance of physical evidence
as first encountered,
• To provide investigators with a photographic
record of the scene to assist them with their
investigators, and
• To present the crime scene at court for the
edification of judges, juries and counsel alike.
Purpose of Crime Scene Photography
• To record the original scene and related areas
• To record the initial appearance of physical
evidence
• It will provide investigators and other with this
permanent visual record of the scene for later
use.
• Photographs are also used in court trials and
hearings.
Admissibility of Photographic Evidence
• Three major parts of qualification of a
photograph in court
• The object pictured must be material or
relevant to the point in issue
• The photograph must not appeal to the
• The photograph must be free from distortion
and not misrepresent the scene or the object it
purports to reproduce.
CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY
 Crime scene photography has to be done right
the first time without errors and ommissions on
every details of the crime scene
 The crime scene must be recorded accurately
on film in the first instance, because a crime
scene photographer cannot gp back after
realizing some ommisions or errors, especially
in the Philippine setting where the crime scene
is release right after the initial investigation.
 Unlike any other forms of photography, crime
scene photography is very vital as it provides
the police with a photographic record to
assistthem in their investigation especially if it is
unsolved, to reveal any latent details at the
General Crime Scene Photography
A. Techniques In Recording Crime Scene
1. Filed Notes
2. Photographs
3. Sketches
FIELD NOTES
• Field notes are the basis for a complete and
accuarate police report
• Field note-taking is essential to capture
information that might otherwise be lost.
• Field notes are written impressions and facts
gathered during all investigative activities.
 Arrival at the Scene
 Witness Interviews Interrogations
 Crime Scene Searches
 Record Searched and Reviews
 Crime Scene Sketches
Rough Sketch
 It contains measurements of the entire scene. If
there is body or other pertinent evidence,
measurements are taken from two fixed point.
a) First discuss the crime, evidence, and
photographs needed with other investigators at
the scene
b) Be careful not to destroy any evidence while
taking the photographs

3.Outside the scene

(1) Exterior of the building where the crime occurred
and in some cases the whole locale
(2) Aerial photographs of the scene and the surrounding
area can be useful in some types of cases 
(3) Original series of photographs should also show all
doors, windows and other means of entrance or exit
Finish Sketch
4. Inside the scene 
 It must be neat and presentable with items
(1) Begin with a view of the entrance
clearly delineated and recognizable.
(2) Then photograph the scene as it appears when you
Measurement must be neatly shown and must
first step into the room
come from the rough sketch to be admissible in
(3) Next, move around the room to get photographs of
court.
all the walls
(a) These photographs should also show the positions of
any potential items of evidence
(4) Include photographs of other rooms connected with
the actual crime scene

5. Using video to record the crime scene

a. Frequently valuable to show an overview of the scene
Five Steps In Reocrding The Crime Scene is related to its surroundings

1. Secure the Scene b. The second photograph should be a close-up to bring

2. Take Preliminary Notes out the details of the object itself
3. Take Overview Photographs
4. Make a Basic Sketch
5. Record each Item of Evidence

Taking Overview Photographs

PURPOSE

 To show the sceneexactly as it was when you

first saw it.

1. If something was moved before arrived , don’t try to

reconstruct the scene as it was. The photographs should
show the scene as you found it.

2. Major crime photography

Lesson 2 Crime Scene Photography
Photographing the Items of Evidence
2. Measuring and marking devices
a. Take two photographs if a marking
or measuring device is used
(1) One photograph without the
device, the other with the device
(2) So the defense can't claim that the scene was
altered or that the device was concealing anything
important
Guidelines in Crime Scene Photography  maximum depth of field is required.
1. The Camera
With the introduction of digital cameras in the
Philippines, the methods and procedures adopted to
actually photograph a crime scene do not change. The
minimum requirement for many years has been, and for
a lot of years to come will be, a 35mm SLR camera with
a metal body. 
2. The Lens
In crime scene photography, the following lenses are
needed:
1. standard lens
2. wide-angle lens of at least 28mm focal length
3. macro lens of around 50mm focal length
4. medium telephoto lens of 135mm focal length
5. Zoom lens in the range of 28-105mm which can
take the place of both the wide-angle and the
medium telephoto lenses.   The Technique for Good Crime Scene Coverage
3. Flash Equipment
It is essential that the SLR camera which will be
used in crime scene photography must be equipped
with flash equipment to compensate insufficient
light during night crime scene investigation or in
dim places which requires additional lighting to
have clear exposures.
4. Essential Accessories
1. air-tight camera case
2. tripod
3. batteries 
5. Film
1. The Courts requires colour photographs
2. ISO 400 colour film is advisable.  
Technicalities in Crime Scene Photography
1. Correct Exposure
a) The need for pin sharp images coupled with a
b) Carefully select aperture settings
c) Correct selection of complementary shutter
speeds to obtain the correct exposure.  
2. Flash Manipulation 
The Crime Scene Proper
1. Before entering and photographing a crime
scene, talk to investigators at the scene and
formulate a plan of attack.
2. No need to rush in, take a dozen quick
photographs, and then leave.
3. Find out exactly what the Police Officers want
you to photograph,
4. Know what they are investigating, and
5. Be prepared to use your expertise to record the
scene accurately.
6. Call the attention of the Investigators on pieces
of evidence which they might have undetected. 
Photographing of a crime scene should start with
location shots, which are wide-angle photographs of the
general crime scene and surrounding areas. 
Show the relationships between various pieces of
evidence at the scene.  This may involve aerial
photographs from an aircraft, from some other elevated
advantage point nearby, or simply general shots from a
distance. 
3. If the scene itself is an indoor one, work on a
minimum of 10 photographs of a room using a wide-
angle lens –
a) one from each corner looking diagonally to the
opposite corner (4);
b) one from the center of each wall looking
directly to the center of the opposite wall (4);
c) one from near floor level at one end of the
room looking up to the ceiling (1);
d) and one from the same end of the room near to
ceiling height looking down to the floor of the
room (1)   If an object was moved prior to your arrival, don't try to
4. The Mid-Range Photographs
These show the relationships of specific items of
evidence to each other and to the scene properly.
They should be photographed from normal viewing
height, the same perspective any person in the room or
at the scene would have when walking through them.
5. The Close-Up Photographs
a) This is the final series of photographs
b) These shots show details of important pieces of
evidence that you have already identified in
your mid-range photographs.
c) Items with which relative sizes are important
should be photographed with and without a
scale.
d) The item should be firstly photographed as
located, then photographed again including the
scale.  activity prior to the murder; any evidence of a struggle,
e) It is important that the scale is placed on the
same plane as the item, and
f) The film plane must be parallel to the scale.  
Important Points to Remember
If you have a crime scene that is not confined to one
area, photograph it progressively by doing a `walk-
through'. Always link your photographs by having some
identifiable object in one photograph visible in the next
photograph, and so on.
Be careful where you step and what you touch. Do not
destroy any evidence such as shoe impressions, blood
stains, or fired cartridge cases as you are
photographing.
replace it or have someone else replace it in an effort to
reconstruct the scene. 
Don't be rushed by an investigator. 
Always identify the photograph by indicating the date,
location, and initials of the photographer.
Crime Scene Photography of Specific Crimes
1. Homicide
A.)Photographing a homicide scene will be a detailed
one. 
B.)The same procedures as outlined above must be
observe
C.)The most important `items' at the scene will be the
victim, injuries and any weapons located. 
D.)It will be important to photograph any signs of
or of forced entry if an indoor scene; and the views
from the positions any witnesses had of the crime.   
Specific Photographs to be taken in Homicide Cases
a. Exterior of the building
b. Evidence outside the building
c. Entrance into the scene
d. Room in which the body was found
e. Adjoining rooms, hallways, stairwells
f. Body from five angles
Specific Photographs to be taken in Homicide Cases
g. Close-up of body wounds
h. Weapons
i. Trace evidence
j. Signs of activity prior to the homicide
k. Evidence of a struggle – Defensive Wounds, Ripped
Clothing
l. View from positions witnesses had at time of the
crime
(1) Use a normal lens
2. Suicide
When attending a suicide or any other deceased for
that matter, and there is some doubt as to the
circumstances of the death - treat it as a homicide so
the steps above must be observed.
3. Physical Injuries
a) Injury crimes firstly require a general, overall
photograph of the victim prior to detailed
photographs of injuries.
b) Photograph bruises, bites marks and other
injuries close-up, use a scale to show the sizes
of the injuries  Photographing Traces of Evidence
4. Structural Scenes
a) Scenes of building fires, building collapses, or
other structural events, both externally and
internally, should also be photographed using
the `big picture, mid-range, and close-up'
principles.
b) Always ensure your own safety and the safety
of your valuable equipment.
5. Motor Vehicle Accidents
a) Photograph motor vehicle accidents using the
`big picture, mid-range and close-up' principle.  and initials of the photographer.
b) Photographs must show the relationships of
each vehicle to the other;
c) The view each driver had on approach to the
point of impact;
d) The direction from which each driver came;
e) Debris and marks on the roadway;
f) Views from the points witnesses observed the
crash at their eye levels;
6. Robbery Cases
a) The `big picture, mid-range, and close-up'
principle apply.
b) Close-up photographs will include:
I. Tool Marks – Any impression, abrasion, or cut
made when contact occurs between a tool and
an object
II. Shoe Impressions
III. Fabric impressions
IV. Fingerprints
V. Other trace and physical evidence. 
Specific Photographs to be Taken in Robbery Cases
a. Exterior of building
b. Point of entry
c. Entrance into scene
d. Interior views
e. Area from which valuable articles were removed
f. Damage to locks, safe, doors, tool marks
g. Articles or tools left at the scene by the suspect
h. Trace evidence
i. Other physical evidence
1. Shoe and Tire Impressions
a) The same principle applies as in general crime
scene photography, with the `big picture'
photograph showing where in the scene the
impressions are located. 
b) Use marker alongside the impression, which is
left in position when the mid-range and close
up photographs are taken. 
c) Use Standard lens setting when photographing
larger items of trace evidence
d) d. Identify the picture with the date, location
e) e. It is important to keep the film plane of the
camera parallel to the surface bearing the
impression.
f) f. It is equally important to use an oblique light
source to reveal the detail of the impression.  
2. Blood Patterns
a) Photographs of blood splash patterns,
whether they be on a floor, on a vertical
surface such as a wall, or even overhead on
a ceiling, must be photographed with the
film plane parallel to the surface bearing
the stain. 
b) A scale must be included on the same plane
as the surface.  (a.) Procedure
c) General location photographs must be
taken to show the positions of the blood
staining at the scene
Alternate Light Sources in Police Photography
Many lighting sources are available in forensic
photography, apart from ambient daylight and
electronic flash.  They include
1. infra-red,
2. Ultra-violet
3. Polilight which was used to reveal and enhance latent
trace evidence such as fibers and body fluids.
Photographing of such trace evidence requires the use
of barrier filters.
Photographing Evidence
3. Procedures
a. Establish the location of the latent
b. Close-up to show detail
c. A scale must be included in the photograph
on the same plane as the latent
B. Impressions
1. Footprints and tire tracks
1. Take an orientation photograph to show where in the
scene the impression is located
2. Take a close-up for detail
(a) Use a scale on the same plane as the impression
(b) Keep the film plane parallel to the plane of the
impression
3. Photograph tire impressions in sections showing one
circumference of the tire
(a) Use a tape measure for overlapping photographs
C. Bloodstain photography
1. Use color film
2. Orientation photographs to show locations of
bloodstain evidence at the scene
3. Close-up photographs to show detail
a. Use a scale on the same plane as the bloodstain
b. Keep the film parallel to the plane of the bloodstain

A. Fingerprints

1. When to photograph fingerprints?

a. Before lifting on major cases or if the latent may be

destroyed when lifting
b. To bring out detail in a latent

2. What type of filter must be used?

a. Color filters, when used in black and white
photography, can be used to build contrast by either
lightening or darkening the subject (latent print) or by
lightening or darkening the background.

(1) To lighten a color, the color filter closest to the color

is used 

(2) To darken a color, the opposite color filter is used