Perkins+and+Hollis+Forensic+Photography

=FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY:=

HISTORY:

 * The earliest known use of forensic photography was in 1843 and 1844 in Belgium, then in Denmark in 1851. The photos taken, however, were mostly mug shots of prisoners. There was no training required, and many of the photos taken were by commercial photographers and sometimes even prison officials.
 * By the 1870's, the practice of forensic photography spread to many countries, though it was limited to larger cities. Professional photographers would be employed to take pictures of the criminals, and this was early evidence that led to the standard mug shot known today.
 * This was the first time that people saw portraiture being used for something other than art. The mug shots had no interesting lighting or angles.
 * The practice of taking mug shots was a standard police regulation until the latter part of the 19th century. This process was then only used to take pictures of criminals convicted of serious offenses. This was, of course, by discretion of the police.
 * Unlike mug shots, crime photography allows more room for creative interpretation and variance of style. This process includes:
 * taking pictures of the victim
 * scars, wounds, birthmarks, etc.
 * pictures of the scene
 * placement of objects
 * position of the body
 * photos of evidence and fingerprints
 * This development of forensic photography is responsible for radical changes in the field, including public involvement (appearing in newspaper) and new interpretations and purposes of the field.
 * As forensic photography grey, it yielded negative and positive effects
 * Positive
 * increases awareness by exposing the crimes
 * has been gained support, and has led to the starting of movements and programs dedicated to aid victims and stop future instances of these crimes
 * among these are chid abuse, spousal abuse, rape and many others
 * Negative
 * a visual aid is something that is much harder to ignore and is often shocking and moving to the viewer
 * In the future
 * Forensic photography continues to advance thanks to the help of digital photography
 * Infrared and ultraviolet light are used for trace evidence photography of fingerprints, tiny blood samples, and many other things





Photographing the Scene:

 * they take black and white and various types of color flim
 * use cameras with different lenses
 * use various forms of flashes
 * use a tripod
 * photo log: example" to show if the entrance and exist of a bullet
 * bring filters for better depth
 * bring scales
 * take two pictures of each shot
 * they walk through the scene to see what they need to take more pictures of
 * take pictures from every corner of the room and every angle
 * most items are photographed up close and very detail

Body pictures:

 * head to feet
 * right and left side of body
 * feet to head
 * straight down from above

Outdoor Crime Scenes:

 * observe routes to enter the crime scene so you don't destroy any evidence
 * take pictures of the crowd
 * street signs and intersections
 * don't make any footprint impressions
 * record house numbers
 * take pictures of paths leading to and from scene

Shoe/tire impressions:

 * take a picture with a scale and with out a scale, laying the scale parallel
 * use color and/or black and white
 * be perpendicular using a tripod
 * get as much impression as possible

Indoor Crime Scenes:

 * use available light, incandescent light, fluorescent light, electronic flash, or a combinaton
 * during trail you have to discuss the type of lighting that was used and why you used it
 * you can use a normal lens
 * blood evidence
 * retake photos every hour
 * record time and air temperature
 * fingerprints and footwear
 * height and location
 * take pictures with and without scales

Photographing vehicles:

 * left side, ride side, front and back
 * top of hood and trunk
 * license plate and registration decal
 * VIN number using macro lens
 * undercarriage
 * damage and trace evidence
 * mid-range and close up to show possible patterns
 * bumper
 * seat belts
 * blood marks, how tight or lose it was, if the seat belt was used

Traffic Accidents/ Hit and Run:

 * where the vehicles are at rest and the position
 * the location of the vehicles
 * debris and marks on highway
 * the direction the vehicles came from

Homicide:

 * color film
 * evidence outside of building
 * entrance into the scene
 * room of where the body was found
 * take pictures of body from 5 angles
 * close up of wombs
 * trace evidence
 * autops

Burglaries:

 * pictures of outside and inside of the building
 * entrance
 * damages to locks, safe, doors
 * tools left behind
 * trace evidence and other physical evidence

Assaults/ Injuries:

 * injuries
 * face of victim
 * bruises
 * bite marks:
 * close up
 * use a ruler focus camera
 * use color film, charts and rulers

Evidence:

Why do pictures need to be taken at the crime scene:

Interview with Ryan Perkins, cop and undercover drug bust
1. What are one the main things that you look for when taking pictures at a crime scene? homicide: body shooting: body, blood, shell casing, location of shooting, main thing for all is the body, location of where it happened suicide: note, how something happened

2. What are the main steps for taking crime scene photos? step one: taking a picture of where it happened step two: take pictures of the body and evidence step three: take pictures of the room to get the overlook of what had happened

3. Do you process the pictures yourself? "When I take pictures of a drug deal or bust we have to process them ourselves." For a murder scene etc. the crime lab does it for you.

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