CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

 Crime Scene Photography

Crime scene photographer has one primary

goal:
 Provide visual documentation that is a true
and accurate representation of the scene and
evidence

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 Crime Scene Photography
(Continued)
 Purpose of crime scene photography is to
visually record scene as you found it
 Those photographs will be viewed by many
people
 If pictures are not taken properly, valuable
evidence can be lost

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 Why Take Photographs?

 They become a permanent record of the scene

as it appeared when investigators were present
 They serve as an aid to refresh the memory
 They provide documentation of the crime or
injury

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 Why Take Photographs?
(Continued)
 Forensic scientists use them to perform
analyses and comparisons
 Attorneys, judges, and juries use them as
visual aids before and during trial

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Suggested Equipment (Continued)
 How to Photograph Crime Scene

 Simply stated, start with general photographs

and progress to specific photographs
 This is best accomplished by photographing
the scene in three stages:

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 How to Photograph Crime Scene
(Continued)
 Over-all photographs
 Mid-range photographs
 Close-up photographs

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 Over-All Photographs

 Goal is to get as much information in one

picture as possible
 They should be taken before anything in the
scene is moved or disturbed
 They record the scene as it was found

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Method for Taking Over-All Photos

EXTERIOR CRIME SCENE PHOTOS

 Move away from the scene and photograph it
from a distance
 Take photos all way around perimeter
 Include business names and signs

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Method for Taking Over-All Photos
(Continued)
 Photograph nearby street signs, cross streets
 If scene is in a large open area, try to find
near-by recognizable landmarks such as hills,
trees, power poles

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Method for Taking Over-All Photos
(Continued)
Street
Street

House

Street
Method for Taking Over-All Photos
(Continued)
 Step inside the door and photograph the
room in overlapping segments

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 Method for Taking Over-All Photos
(Continued)
 Then repeat process from each corner of room, taking
a series of overlapping photos

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 Mid-Range Photographs

 Medium or mid-range photographs help in

establishing locations of evidence within the
scene
 They focus the attention of the viewer on an
object, but the camera is far enough away to
see other objects in the room

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 Close-Up Photographs

 Close-up photographs define and give details

to a specific item of evidence
 They should be taken when important
aspects of evidence are not shown in over-all
or mid-range photos

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 Close-Up Photographs
(Continued)

 It is not always necessary to take close-up

photos
 For example: if there are 5 cartridge casings in
a group on the ground, all of same make and
caliber, a close-up of each one has little value

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 Systematic Approach

 As you progress from over-all to mid-range to

close-up photographs, try to move through
the scene systematically and logically
 Try to finish one room before you start the
next

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 Examples

Over-all Mid-range

Close-up

Close-up
 Examples
(Continued)

Over-all Mid-range

Close-up
Guidelines for Crime Scene Photography

 Do not take photographs of

anything you do not want
the world to see
 If a photograph is on a roll
of film you took at crime
scene, it becomes evidence
and can be used in court

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Guidelines for Crime Scene Photography
(Continued)
 The crime scene and any evidence within the
scene should be photographed before
anything is moved or disturbed

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 Use of Evidence Markers

 After over-all and mid-range photographs

have been taken, items to be collected as
evidence should be identified with the use of
evidence markers and photographed again
with markers in place

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 Use of Evidence Markers
(Continued)
 The number or letter assigned should
be unique to the item

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 Use of Scales

 Common sense decides when scales are

necessary
 Putting a scale next to a casing that will be
collected as evidence serves no purpose

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 Use of Scales
(Continued)
It is essential to put a scale next to
 Bullet graze
 Fingerprint
 Bloodstain
 Shoe print or tire track

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 Use of Scales
(Continued)
 It is best to place two scales
at a right angle to each other
around the object
 Focus on the object, not the
scale

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 Use of Scales
(Continued)
 Pens, coins and paper clips should not be
used as scales

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 Use of Scales
(Continued)
 Fill picture
frame with
item and
scale

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 Problem Photographs

 Avoid shooting into reflective surfaces, such

as mirrors or glass
 You do not want to take picture of yourself
 Light can reflect back

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 Problem Photographs (Continued)
 When using off-camera flash, make sure flash is
not blocked by intermediate object, such as door
jam

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 Problem Photographs
(Continued)
 There is no substitute for practice
 Avoid testing new techniques “under fire”
 Photographs do not take place of good notes
or diagram
 Each supports the other

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