UNIT 6

Digital Photography and

Videography
Objectives:
At the end of the unit, you are expected to be able to:
1. Cite the significance of digital photography and videography;
2. Determine the features of digital photography and
videography;
3. Identify and advantages and disadvantages of digital
photography; and
4. Relate the use of digital photography and videography in
police work.
Generally speaking, a photography student who hopes to become a forensic professional
has to learn the same basic photography skills when using a film-based or a digital camera.

Film Photography

Although digital photography has now gained dominance over film photography, there are
still professionals who would argue that film remains the best way to capture images because of
its incredible ability to record detail in a very stable form.
The most popular of film cameras is the 35mm SLR (single lens reflex camera), with
through-the-lens viewing, built-in metering and interchangeable lenses. The availability of fine-
grained and ultra-sharp rolls of film allows the 35mm format to be usable for a wide variety of
needs.
Film cameras are loaded with a film without having it fogged by light. They should always
be kept in a cool place, out of direct sunlight, in low humidity, and away from all sources of
chemical fumes.

Digital Photography

A form of photography that uses digital technology to make images of subjects. Digital
photographs can be displayed, printed, stored, manipulated, transmitted, and archived using digital
and computer techniques without chemical processing. It is one of several forms of digital imaging.
Digital images

These are created by non-photographic equipment such as computer tomography

scanners and radio telescopes.

It also be made by scanning conventional photographic images.

Features of a Digital Camera
1. Sensor – It read the intensity of the light as filtered through different color filters.
2. Storage – Digital memory devices store the digital image information, either as RGB color
space or as a raw data. Nearly all digital cameras now use built in and/or removable solid-
state flash memory.
3. Multifunctionality and connectivity – A digital memory device is usually used for storing
images, which may then be transferred to a computer later. It can take pictures, and may
also record sound and video. It can be used as webcams. Some can use the PictBridge
standard to connect to a printer without using a computer. It can display pictures directly
on a television set.
4. Performance metrics – Quality of a digital image is the sum of various factors, many of
which are similar to film cameras.
a. Pixel count – created by marketing organizations of digital camera
manufacturers because consumers can use it easily to compare camera
capabilities.
b. Resolution – provides an indication of the amount of detail that is captured. It
is simply based on the number of pixels produced by the image sensor.
c. Dynamic range – the range of luminosity which can be reproduced accurately.
5. Sensor size and angle of view – cameras with digital sensors that are smaller than the
typical 35mm film size will have a smaller field or angle of view when used with a lens of
the same focal length. Angle of view is a function of both focal length and the sensor or
film size used.
6. Digital camera backs – most digital cameras are built to operate as a self-contained unit.
This is especially so that at the lower-end, for these cameras usually include zoom lens and
flashes that cannot be changed. Scanning and multi-shot camera backs are usually used
only in studios to take pictures of still objects.

The principal attraction with digital cameras is the immediacy of the results. As soon as
the picture is taken, the shot can be viewed instantly in the screen as well as on the computer
or TV screen. There is no processing stage; the image can be printed at home using a standard
desktop printer or professionally using photographic paper, and the memory can be re-used.
Digital cameras a\use an electronic light-sensitive CCD or CMS chip that converts the focused
image into an electrical signal, which then converts into a digital form using the same binary
code in which all computer files are stored (Hedgecoe, 2005).

Digital cameras can vary in terms of the number of pixels or the individual elements used
by the imaging sensor. More pixels mean higher maximum resolution. The higher the
resolution, the bigger the file size.
Some types of digital cameras

1. View Camera
This is a large format camera, using individual pieces of 5x4 inch (12.7 x 10cm)
film or larger (5x7, 8x10, 11x14), with a lens panel mounted on a flexible bellows and
a ground-glass screen at the image plane for viewing and focusing. They are also known
as a technical camera.
This type of large and cumbersome camera is normally mounted on a sturdy tripod.
They are used most often by professionals, either in the studio or on location for
subjects such as buildings. They tend to be slow and cumbersome to use, but give
superb results.

2. Polaroid Camera or Instant-print Camera

This type of camera can produce a black-and-white or colored print in less than a
minute after the picture has been snapped. The photograph is self-developed either
within or outside the camera.

Instant cameras are very useful on social occasions such as parties. They are also
employed by people like the police or insurance investigators who may require an
instant record of a crime scene.

Professional photographers often use instant film in medium or large format

cameras so that they can judge the exposure or lighting quality of a shot before shooting
on conventional film.

They lack detail, the print can fade, and there are no negatives for duplicates.

3. Spy Camera
This usually refers to a camera disguised as a matchbox, card case, pocket watch,
or other small item and used surreptitiously.

4. Infrared Camera
This is camera with detectors that respond to infrared energy radiated by any heat.
It is used to take photographs without the presence of light, and works as well by day
or night. It is commonly used in surveillance during night time.

5. Disposable Cameras
These are cameras that are supplied with preloaded film. When the film has been
exposed, the whole camera is taken into the processing laboratory.

6. Cellphone Cameras
More people now have cameras and take more pictures due largely to the popularity
of the mobile phone with built right in digital cameras of up to 8 MP on the CCD chip.
Some even have zoom functionality, ability to record, and come with a flash or light
source.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Photography

A digital SLR has the same handling and features as the 35 mm SLR but offers the
advantages of digital recording. Digital cameras offer the following advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:
1. It allows shooting in both color and black and white; there is no need to change film.
2. 3there is no need to worry about running out of film.
3. It allows you to see the image directly through the lens using a prism and moving mirror
arrangement.
4. It has an LCD monitor that can be used for framing shots or reviewing pictures already
taken.
5. It also provides a high degree of control over exposure, focusing, control balance, and
other creative functions.
6. An added feature on many digital cameras is the ability to shoot video.
7. It offers an automatic exposure bracketing (AEB). The digital camera’s exposure
bracketing system automatically varies exposures in a series of three shots.
8. You can take as many photographs in one go as the memory card will allow.
9. You can conveniently share your pictures.

Disadvantages:
1. Digital cameras are not as sensitive to light as the film-based cameras.
2. They require more light to make an exposure.
3. The shutter lag or the delay between pressing the shutter button and actually capturing
of the image can lead to missed opportunities.
4. The LCD viewfinder can sometimes be hard to see on a bright day.
5. Camera battery life is limited due to the abundance of computerized parts.

Digital Photography in Police Work

The use of digital cameras is an excellent means of recording for crime scene
investigations. By viewing the image recorded on a small screen set within the digital camera, the
forensic photographer can ensure that the image has been recorded accurately. With digital
cameras, the image recorded can be electronically transferred between sites for the purpose of
briefing or searching against databases. Some police forces invest heavily in digital imaging
equipment with large image recording ability, such as over 5 million pixels so that the image is
not compressed as in smaller cheaper cameras with only 3 million pixels. Compression of the
image results in information being removed to allow storage (Pepper, 2005).

But the important issue regarding the use of digital cameras refers to the security and
integrity of the electronic image from the time it was taken at the crime scene to the investigative
process and the presentation in court. It seems relatively easy to enhance the digital image or
remove an object from it, thus raising the issue of digital image manipulation.
 In Crime Scene Investigations: Methods and Procedures, Ian K. Pepper (2005) cites the
suggestion of the Police Scientific Development Branch regarding this issue. An audit trail should
be initiated as soon as a digital image is recorded that will remain with the image from its beginning
until its final disposal. Such a trail should include details of the case, description of images
recorded, any downloading of the images, creation of master files, their storage, any access to
them, copying of the image, viewing of the image, and their use in a court of law. Pepper further
suggests that as soon as possible, the first digital recording of the image should be burned in an
uncompressed format to a writable CD in a Write once, Read Many (WORM) formats. Information
about the date and time the CD should be recorded and the details of the person making the
recording should be included. Future alterations or enhancements of every image should also be
recorded in the sequence they are performed.

Videography

It refers to the process of capturing moving images on electronic media.

The term includes methods of electronic production and post production.
It is the equivalent of cinematography, but with images recorded on electronic media
instead of film stock.
It covers many more fields than just shooting video with a camera including digital
animation (such as Flash), gaming, web streaming, video blogging, still slideshows, remote
sensing, spatial imaging, medical imaging, security imaging, and in general the production
of most bitmap- and vector-based assets.

Advantages
Video gives immediate results without the need for processing.
Video can be used more than once simply by recording over previous recordings.
Visual movement allows the viewer to accurately perceive the scene as it is shown.
Sound may be included.

Video camera
It is attached to a separate recorder or playback unit.

Video camcorder
It has a built-in recorder or playback unit.

Crime Scene Videography

It is valuable as an overview for presentation in court as well as a moving analysis of the
scene.
It allows for a documented perspective of the crime scene which cannot be captured in
reports, interviews, or photographs.

Considerations
Prior to videotaping, the investigator should walk the designated videographer through the
scene.
Videos should begin with am overall general view of the scene.
 If the scene is indoors, then the videos should include an overall pan of the outside of the
location.
The tape should then include a brief preamble by the investigator which includes the
narrator’s name, the case number, time, date, location of the incident, and a concise
description of all rooms and evidence to be viewed in the tape.
Upon completion of this introduction, audio should be disabled as to not bias the jury and
videotaping of the scene should begin with a general overview of the crime scene and
adjoining areas.
The only exception to this is the inclusion of explanation of what a given piece of evidence
is.
However, care must be taken not to say anything that could emotionally bias a jury as doing
so can result in the judge denying the videotape as evidence.
Upon initiation of crime scene video analysis, the cameraman should use close-up and
wide-angle views to show the location of evidence, relevance of evidence, and the scene
layout.
Slow camera movements such as zooming and panning should be used while videotaping.
Close-ups of small items of evidence should include a scale to illustrate the size of the item.
No personnel should be present in the video whatsoever and the content must be relevant
to the case and not produce a level of emotional bias that would be unacceptable to a given
judge deciding on the admissibility of the evidence.
Ideally, camera work should be accomplished by a professional trained to walk through the
crime scene without disturbing any evidence.
Furthermore, videotaping does NOT replace crime scene photography. Rather, it acts as a
more graphical representation of different aspects of the scene.

References:

Bulan, (2013), Police Photography, Charterhouse Publishing Inc., Quezon City

Bulan, M.E. & Magadia, M.E. (2017), Police Photography Second Edition, Charterhouse Publishing Inc., Quezon City
Kalalang, S. & Kalalang, A. (2009), Instructional Handbook on Police Photography with Laboratory Manual, Wiseman
Publishing Inc., Quezon City
Villarba, W (2015), Forensic Photography for Criminology Students and Practitioners with Laboratory Manual Second
Edition, Wiseman Publishing Inc., Quezon City
Nabe, N. et al. (2017), Laboratory Manual in Police Photography, Wiseman Publishing Inc., Quezon City