INTRODUCTION

I WILL NOW INTRODUCE MYSELF!!!

 FORENSIC
PHOTOGRAPHY
A BASIC REVIEW
DEFINITION
A. Photography

1. Literal Definition: 2. Modern Definition:

The word photography It is an art or science

derives from two Greek which deals with the
words: phos which reproduction of images
means “LIGHT” and through the action of light
graphia meaning upon sensitized materials,
“Write”. Therefore with the aid of a camera
Photography best and it’s accessories and
translate as “to write the chemical processes
with light” involved therein.
3. Technical/ Legal
Definition:
Modern Photography may
be defined as any means
for the chemical, thermal,
electrical or electronic
recording of the images of
scenes, or objects formed
by some type of radiant
energy including gamma
rays, x-rays, ultra-violet
rays, visible rays and infra
red rays.
B. Police Photography
Is an art or science
which deals with the
study of the principles
of photography, the
preparation of
photographic evidence
and it’s application to
police work.
C. Forensic
Photography

Is an art or science
of photographically
documenting a
crime scene and
evidence for
laboratory
examination and
analysis for
purposes of court
trial.
PRINCIPLES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
* A photograph is both the mechanical and
chemical result of photography. To produce a
photograph, light is needed aside from sensitized
materials (Films and Papers).
* Light radiated or reflected by the subject must
reach the film while all other lights are excluded.
The exclusion of all other lights is achieved by
placing the film inside a light tight box (Camera)
* The effect of light on the film is not visible in
the formation of images of objects. To make it
visible, we need or require a chemical processing
of the exposed film called DEVELOPMENT.
• The visual effect light on the film after
development varies with the quantity and
quality of light that reached the emulsion of
the film, too great in the amount of light will
produce an opaque or very black shade after
development.

• The amount of light reaching the film is

dependent upon several factors like lighting
condition, lens opening used, shutter used,
filters used etc…
 HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF
FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
A. The basic components of photography
1. Light
2. Equipment
3. Chemicals

B. True Photography:

1839- is generally known as the birth year of photography.

William Henry Fox Talbot invented a process called
“CALOTYPE”.
Calotype or talbotype is an early photographic process
introduced by William Henry Fox Talbot, using paper coated
with silver iodide. The term calotype comes from the Greek
καλός (kalos), "beautiful", and τύπος (tupos), "impression".
The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful
photographic process (1839-1860) in the history of photography.
Named after the inventor, Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, each
daguerreotype is a unique image on a silvered copper plate.
COMPARISON OF CALOTYPE AND
DAGUERREOTYPE

CALOTYPE DAGUERREOTYPE
1848 – Abel Niepce De Saint Victor introduced the process
of negatives on glass using albumen (egg white) as
binding medium.
1850 – Louis Desirie Blanquant- Evard introduced a
printing paper coated with albumen to achieve a glossy
surface.
1851 – Frederick Scott Archer published a “wet plate”
process when collodion- a viscous liquid that dries to a
tough flexible and transparent film- replaced albumen
due to that it reduces exposure time to produce at
image.
1855 – Gelatin emulsion printing paper was commercially
introduced. During this time, the cameras were crude,
the lenses could not form a true image and the
sensitive materials required long exposures and could
not reproduce shades of gray. It was in 1856 when John
F. W. Herschel coined the word “Photography”.
1861 – James Clark Maxwell researched in colors.
1890 – Full corrected lenses were introduced.
1906 – A plate was placed on the market that could
reproduce all colors in equivalent shades of gray.
1907 – Lummiere color process was introduced, a
panchromatic film was used but with blue, green
and red filter.
1914 – U.S Eastman Kodak made a color subtractive
process called Kodachrome.
1935 – Color process came out together with electric
flash.
1947 – Edwin H. Land introduced “Polaroid”, the one-
step photography.
1960 – LASER was invented making holograms possible
(3D pictures).
1988 – The arrival of true digital cameras.
CRIMINAL APPLICATIONS
1854- Maddox developed a dry
plate photography eclipsing
Daguerre’s wet plate on tin
method
1864 – Odelbercht first advocated
the use of photography for the
identification of criminals and
documentation of evidence of
inmates for prison records
1882 – Alphonse Bertillion who initiated the
anthropometric measurements for personal
identification was also involved in various
means of photography which developed into
a fine science for criminalistics when he
photographed crime scenes.
1902 – Dr. R. A. Reis, a german scientist who
contributed to the use of photography in
forensic science and established the world’s
earliest crime laboratory.
1910 – Victor Baltazard developed a method of
photographic comparison of bullets and
cartridge cases which acted as an early
foundation in the field of ballistics.
LEGAL FOUNDATION OF
PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE
1. For Black and White photographs.
1859 – Daguerreotype was used in a civil
case. (Luco vs United States).
1874 – Photograph was used as identification
evidence. (Udderzook vs Commonwealth).

2. For Color Photographs.

1943 – color photography of spoiled meat in
violation of health ordinance.
1869 – Graphic wound photographs of a
victim
CRIMINOLOGY EDUCATION
1902 – Dr. R A. Reis set up one of the first
academic curricular in Forensic Science.

1950 – August Vallmer, a Chief of Police of

Berkeley, California established the school of
Criminology at the University of California.
Paul L. Kirk, a biochemist and a forensic
scientist presided over the major subjects of
criminalistics within the school.

1954 – Philippine College of Criminology

pioneered criminology education in the
country.
PHOTOGRAPHIC RAYS, IT’S NATURE AND
CHARACTERISTICS.
A. Light – Radiant electromagnetic energy that can be
seen by the naked eye.
Wavelength- A wavelength is a measure of distance
between two identical peaks (high points) or troughs
(low points) in a wave -- a repeating pattern of
traveling energy like light or sound.

Photographic Rays of Modern Photography.

1. X-RAYS – Radiation having a wave length
between .01 to 30 nanometer or millimicrons. They
are produced by passing an electric current through
a special type of vacuum tube.
2. ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS – Radiation having a wavelength
of 30 to 400 nanometer or millimicrons. It is used to
3. VISIBLE LIGHT RAYS – Light rays having the wave length
of 400 to 700 millimicrons.
4. INFRARED RAYS – Radiation having a wave length of 700
to 1000 millimicrons. It is used in taking photographs of
obliterated writings, burnt or dirty documents, or blackout
photography.

By definitions, all lights are visible. For this reason the

word “visible” is superflous in that common expression
“visible light”. What the eye can not see are referred to
as radiations.
The final effect of energy an object may have is converted
to another wavelentgh. This conversion is known as
LUMINESCENCE.

LUMINESCENCE - is the generation of light without heat.

Two type of Luminescence:
1. Fluorescence – is the emission of light by a substance that
has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. It is
a form of luminescence. In most cases, the emitted light
has a longer wavelength, and therefore lower energy, than
the absorbed radiation.
The most striking example of fluorescence occurs when the
absorbed radiation is in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum,
and thus invisible to the human eye, while the emitted light is in
the visible region, which gives the fluorescent substance a
distinct color that can only be seen when exposed to UV light.

2. Phosphoresce – is a type of photoluminescence related to

fluorescence. Unlike fluorescence, phosphorescent material
does not immediately re-emit the radiation it absorbs.
Commonly seen examples of phosphorescent materials are the
glow-in-the-dark toys, paint, and clock dials that glow for some
time after being charged with a bright light such as in any normal
reading or room light . Typically the glowing then slowly fades out
within minutes (or up to a few hours) in a dark room.
White Light
For practical purpose, white is the presence of all colors while black
is the absence of all colors.
ROYGBIV
Three primary colors of light depending on the wavelength.
1. 400 to 500 nn – Blue
2. 501 to 600 nn – Green
3. 601 to 700 nn – Red

Bending of light
1. Reflection – is the deflection or bouncing back of light when it hits
a surface.
a. Regular reflection – happens when lights hits a flat, smooth or
shiny surface.
b. Irregular or Diffused Reflection – occurs when light hits a rough
or uneven but glossy object.
2. Refraction – the bending of light when passing through from one
medium to another.
3. Diffraction – the bending of light when it hits a sharp edge of an
opaque.
Kinds of Object as to how the behave in light
1. Transparent objects – allows sufficient
visible light to pass through them that an
object in the other side can clearly be
seen.
2. Translucent Objects – Allows light to pass,
however object on the other side may not
be clearly distinguished.
3. Opaque Objects – the light is greatly
diffused that recognizing the object on the
other side is very difficult if not impossible.
Sources of Light
1. Natural Light Source
a. Bright Sunlight – Casts a deep and uniform
shadow
b. Hazy Sunlight – Transparent Shadow
c. Dull Sunlight – No shadow
Cloudy bright – no shadow but objects
from a far are clearly visible.
Cloudy Dull – no shadow and visibility
of distant objects are already limited.

2. Artificial Light Source – Man made.

a. Continuous Radiation
b. Sort Duration (Flash Unit)
Forensic Light Sources
1. Ultraviolet Lamp
a. Long wave – used in medical and
forensics
b. Medium Wave – used in chemical analysis
c. Sort Wave – Used in sterilization of air,
place and work.(germicide, Contaminants)
2. Laser – Light Amplification through
simulated emission of radiation a.k.a
coherent light.
3. Alternative Light Sources (ALS) – Developed
in the 1980. (Blue light)
Photographic Films and Papers
Film – A transparent cellulose nitrate or cellulose acetate composition
in thin, flexible strips or sheets and coated with a light sensitive
emulsion for taking photographs.

A. Black and White Films. (Three Layers)

a. Emulsion- consist of silver nitrate evenly distributed in the
plastic base material.
b. Gray or Antihalation backing- layer placed between the
emulsion and plastic base to prevent a halo effect.
c. Base- made up of plastic material. Serves as a support to the
emulsion.

Characteristics of BW films
1. According to emulsion speed
a. ASA (American Standards Association) expressed in
arithmetical value
b. DIN ( DeutcheIndustriNormen). Logarithmical value
c. ISO ( International Standards Organization) Combined
Arithmetical and Logarithmical value.
2. According to Spectral Sensitivity- perhaps the most
important characteristics of a film are its variation
in response to the different wave length of light
source which is called Spectral Sensitivity.
a. Blue Sensitive- Sensitive to ultra violet rays and
blue color only.
b. Orthochromatic- Sensitive to ultra violet rays,
blue and green colors.
c. Panchromatic- Sensitive to UV rays, blue, green
and red color.
d. Infrared- Sensitive to UV rays, all colors and
Infrared rays.

3. Granularity or Graininess- Refers to the size of

metallic silver grains that are formed after
development of an exposed film.
B. Color of films – the structure of color film is almost
the same as black and white film, except that the
emulsion layer consist of three layers, stacked one on
top of the other.
1. Top layer- sensitive to blue light only. Red and green
light passes through.
2. Yellow Filter- suspended in gelatin is coated between
the top and second layer to trap the blue light.
3. Middle Layer- is orthochromatic, which is sensitive to
blue and green, but not red.
4. Bottom Layer- is panchromatic, sensitive to blue and
red.

Exposure is made simultaneously in the three layers,

each layer responding to one and only one color,
after exposure the yellow filter is destroyed during
processing of the film.
C. Photographic Papers
Print- a photographic image printed on paper, generally a
positive image made from a negative.
Basic Layers of Printing paper
1.Chloride papers- have a slow speed emulsion containing
silver chloride, fine grain and produce deep blacks. Used
for contact printing.
2.Bromide papers- faster emulsion speed, achieves
sensitivity through the use of bromide halides. Due to high
sensitivity to light, these emulsions are particularly
suitable for projection printing.
3.Chlorobromide papers- contains both chloride and
bromide papers. Emulsion speed lies between the papers,
used for both contact and projection printing.
4.Variable Contrast paper- combines the contrast ranges in
one paper. This versatility is achieved with special
chlorobromide emulsion that produces varying contrast
responses upon exposure to different colored light.
THE CAMERA
A. Camera- is basically nothing more than a light tight box with a
pinhole or a lens, shutter at one end and a holder of sensitized
material inside the camera. The exposure of the sensitized
material to light is controlled by the lens and it’s aperture and the
shutter through it’s speed in opening and closing of lens to light.
Essential parts of a camera
1. Body of light tight box- suggests an enclosure devoid of light. It
prevents light from exposing the sensitized material inside the
camera.
2. Lens- the function of the lens is to focus the light coming from the
subject. It is responsible for the sharpness of the image.
3. Shutter- is used to allow light to enter through the lens and reach
the film for a predetermined interval or time.
4. Holder of Sensitized Material- is located at the opposite of the
lens. Its function is to hold firmly the sensitized material in it’s place
during exposure to prevent the formation of a multiple or blurred
image of the subject.
5. Viewfinder- it is a means of determining the field of view of the
camera or the extent of the coverage of the lens.
THE ORIGIN OF CAMERA
Camera Obscura- a device used
by early artists to display a scene
on the wall of an otherwise
darkened room so that it could
be easily copied. It is the origin
of the modern day camera.
Camera Lucida- designed in
1807 by Dr. William Wollaston,
was an aid to drawing. It was a
reflecting prism which enabled
artist to draw outlines in
correct perspective.
CAMERA TYPES

1. Box Camera- were normally 2. Pinhole Camera- A pinhole

fitted with a single element Camera is a camera without
lens, a limited range of lens. An Extremely small hole
aperture control, and a single takes it’s place, which should
speed shutter be in very thin material
3. Folding- Roll Film Camera- it 4. Range- Finder Camera- is a
is a box camera whose lens is camera fitted with rangefinder
incorporated into a movable camera: a range finding
bellows that could slide back mechanism allowing the
and fourth on a rail, allowing photographer to measure the
the lens to change focus. It has subject distance and take
large negatives and has a photographs that are in sharp
compact design. focus.

5.Reflex Camera- a camera
that has a mirror directly in
the path of light traveling
through the lens that reflects
the scene to a viewing screen.
a. Single lens- one lens for both
viewing and picture taking
b. Twin Lens- Two separate lens
of the same focal length. One
for viewing and focusing, the
other for exposing the film
6. View Camera- A large 7. Viewfinder Camera- Camera
format camera- a term that with a viewfinder that is
applies to cameras that separate from lens used in
produce an individual image taking picture.
size of 5” x 4” or larger. It is
most often found in studio or
sometimes called studio
camera.
8. Single use Camera- are 9. Instant Camera- a type of
cameras that is used only camera with self developing
once, it is disposed after the film.
film is removed for processing.
10.Digital Cameras-

a. Those with fixed memory

b. Those with removable
memory
c. Images can be viewed in
screens
d. LCD
e. Flash unit
f. Zoom lens capacity
g. Sound recording
h. Removable lens
B. Lens- A transparent medium which either converge or diverge
light rays passing it to form an image.
Two type of Lens
1. Convergent, positive or convex-thicker at the center and
thinner at the sides.
2. Divergent, negative or concave lens- thinner at the center
thicker at the sides.

Lens Characteristics

1. Focal length- is the distance measured from the optical center

of the lens to the film plane.
a. Wide angle lens- focal length is less than the diagonal of its
negative material.
b. Normal lens- focal length is equal or more but no more than
twice the diagonal of it’s negative material.
c. Telephoto lens- focal length of more than twice the
diagonal of it negative material
d. Zoom lens- lens with variable focal length.
2. Relative Aperture- is the measure of the light
gathering power of the lens.
3. Focusing- is the setting of the proper distance in
order to form a sharp image on the lens of the
camera.

Type of lenses according to their degree of

correction
1. Achromatic Lens- lens corrected for chromatic
aberration.
2. Rapid Rectilinear lens- lens corrected for distortion
3. Anastigmatic lens- lens corrected for
astigmatation.
4. Apchromat lens- lens corrected for astigmatation
but with higher correction to color.
Lens Diaphragm- a metal diaphragm which can be
expanded or constricted by moving the turning ring on the
lens mount or barrel.
Functions:
1. As controller of light- by expanding and constricting
the diaphragm, it is possible to regulate the amount of
light passing through the lens.
2. As controller of Depth of Field.
Depth of Field is the distance measured from the nearest
to the farthest object in the apparent sharp focus when
the lens is set or focused at a particular distance.
3. As controller of Definition- the ability of the lens to
form clear images of fine details.

Shutters- a device that opens to uncover the film to make

an exposure for an accurately timed interval then closes
automatically.
Central shutters or Between Focal plane shutters- is
the lens- one that is located located near the focal plane or
near the lens. It is made of the sensitized material.
metal leaves and it’s action Usually made of cloth curtain.
starts from the center towards It’s action start from one side
the side, then closes back to and closes on the opposite
the center again. side.
Filters- are homogenous medium which absorbs and
transmits differentially light rays passing through it.

Types of Filters
1. Light Balancing Filter- used to change the color
quality of the exposing light in order to secure
proper color balance.
2. Color Compensating Filter- used to change the
overall color balance of photographic result
obtained with color films.
3. Haze Filter- use to eliminate serial haze
4.Neutral Density Filter- used for reducing the
amount of light transmitted without changing the
color value.
5. Polarizing effect- used to produce or eliminate
reflections on highly reflective surfaces.
PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING AND
CHEMICAL PROCESSING
Chemical processing
1. Development- is the process of reduction.
Exposed silver halides are reduced into
metallic silver.
2. Stop Bath- an intermediate bath between the
developer and the fixer, it is usually a
combination of water plus acetic acid or just
plain water.
3. Fixation- the process of removing unexposed
silver halide remaining in the emulsion after
the first stage of development of the latent
stage.
PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING

Projection printing- a type of

Contact printing- a sheet of
printing or enlarging where the
clear glass about 2 inches bigger
image in the negative is optically
than the print size in all side to
projected or enlarged for
give a border for handling and
exposure to produce a picture
for its application. image.
PHOTOGRAPHY IN CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION
Photography is an essential tool for the law
enforcement investigator. As a tool, it
enables him to record the visible and in
many cases, the invisible evidence of the
crime by employing special techniques,
infrared, ultraviolet and x-ray radiation help
him to record evidences which are not
visible. There is no other process which can
store record, remember and recall evidence
as well as photography.
Identification
Communication and micro files
a. Missing person
a. Transmission of photos
b. Criminal
b. Investigative report files
c. Lost and stolen properties
d. Civilian
 Recording action of offenders
Evidence a. Surveillance
a. Recording and Preserving b. Burglary traps
b. Discovering and proving c. Confessions
d. Re-enactment of a crime
Court Exhibits
a. Demonstration
enlargements
Crime prevention
b. Individual photos
a. Security clearance
c. Projection slides
d. Motion pictures
 Police Training
a. Preparation of training films
Public Relations b. Traffic studies
c. Documentation( riots,
disaster, prison disorders
Reproduction and copying
a. Photographs
b. Official records
THE END.