Photography is an indispensable science in the field of Criminalistics. Knowing that the

investigator could not remember every detail in the investigation, it is evident that relevant and
irrelevant events and evidences can be recorded and be preserved by an investigator with the
aid of Photography.

 Photography is an art and science which produces permanent image on a sensitized material
through the action of light with the use of camera and its accessories and the chemical
processes involved therein.   

  Photography is an invaluable aid to modern day scientific crime detection and investigation as
well as crime prevention.

The year 1839 is considered generally as the birth year of photography. Its first landmark in
police history is generally confined to its application to the problem of personal identification.

What are the Objectives of Photography?

1. To produce a pictorial record of the crime scene.

2. To help in keeping the police officer’s memory in remembering accurately as to
where the locations of physical evidence are found.
3. To help in securing and obtaining confession, description, deposition and
informing relating to the case.

A photograph of the crime scene is a factual reproduction and accurate record of

the crime scene because it captures TIME, SPACE AND EVENT. A photograph is
capable of catching and preserving the:

 SPACE - the WHERE of the crime (Locus Criminis)
 TIME – the WHEN of the crime
 EVENT – the WHAT of the crime – what is the nature or character of the crime?

THE PRINCIPLES OF PHOTOGRAPHY 

A photograph is a mechanical result of photography.  To produce a photograph, light

is needed aside from sensitized material (films and photographic papers). Light radiated or
reflected by the subject must reach the sensitized material while all other lights must be
excluded. The exclusion of all other lights is achieved by placing the sensitized material inside a
light tight box. The light maybe visible or invisible. 

Principle involved in Photography

In photography, the light writes when it strikes minute crystals of light sensitive surfaces
(films and photographic papers), a mechanical device (camera) and chemical processing (film
development and printing). As a process, photography is the method of using light to produce
identical image of an object that can be preserved permanently by employing:
a. camera: camera use to regulate, absorb and filter light
b. film and any sensitized material to record light
  Photography clearly is a process of producing images, a process that involves two basic
steps:

1. The optical- catching light, controlling its intensity, and directing it; and
2. The chemical- recoding the image that has been optically created.

Elements of Photography

1. Light  is a key factor in creating a successful image

2. Sensitized material
3. Camera and its accessories
4. Process involved

II. USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN POLICE WORK

Uses of photography in police work:

1. Identification files- Criminals missing persons, lost property, licenses, anonymous

letters, bad checks, laundry marks, and civilian of personal fingerprint IF In the case of
atomic attack or a catastrophe such as an airplane crash, the fingerprints from a civilian
file are proving helpful in making positive identification

2. Communication and microfilm files- Investigative report files, Accident files transitions
of photos (Wire Photo) Photographic supplements to reports.  With modern day electro
photography machines accident reports can be made in seconds and sold to insurance
adjusters for nominal fees. An excellent source of revenue for department is the sale of
photographs of traffic accidents to insurance companies and lawyers.

3. Evidence- Crime scenes, traffic accidents, homicides suicides, fires, objects of

evidence, latent fingerprint traces. Evidence can be improved by contrast control, by
magnification and by visible radiation.

4. Offender detection – Surveillance, burglar traps, confession, reenactment of crimes  

intoxicated driver test. One of the newest applications of police photography is to record
on motion picture film arrests in which the suspect offers resistance. The practice has
been instituted by at least one metropolitan law enforcement agency to counter charges
of police brutality.

5. Court exhibits- Demonstration enlargements, individual photos, projection slides,

motion pictures.
6. Reproduction or Copying – Questionable checks and documents, evidential papers,
photographs, official records and notices.

7. Personnel training- Photographs and films relating police tactics, investigation

techniques, mob control, and catastrophe situations.

8. Crime and Fire prevention – Hazard lectures, security clearance, detector devices,
photos of hazardous fire, conditions made when fire prevention inspection are made.
 9. Public relations – Films pertaining to safety programs, juvenile delinquency, traffic
education, public cooperation, and civil defense.

*Four primary ways of using photography in Police Work:

1. As means of identification.
2. As a method of discovering, recording and preserving evidence.
3. As a way to present, in the courtroom, an impression of the pertinent elements of a
crime.
4. As a training and public relations medium for police programs.

III. DEFINITION OF TERMS

A. PHOTOGRAPHY  

1. Literal definition:

               The word Photography was derived from Greek words, phos which means “light” and
graphia that means to “draw”. Therefore, photography best translates to write with light.
(Herschel 1839)

  The production of a permanent record of an image by the combined action of light and
chemical processing.

2. Modern definition:

                Photography is an art or science which deals with the reproduction of images through
the action of light, upon sensitized materials, with the aid of a camera and its accessories, and
the chemical processes involved therein. (Aquino 1972)

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 light and infrared rays.
This definition is broad enough to include not only the conventional methods of photography but
almost any new process that may be developed. (Scott 1975)

B. POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY

            Police Photography is an art or science which deals with the study of the principles of
photography, the preparation of photographic evidence, and its application to police work
(Aquino 1972)

C. Forensic Photography

                Forensic- Derived from the Latin word “Forum” which means “a market place”
where people gathered for public discussion. When used in conjunction with other science it
connotes a relationship to the administration of justice. It is sometimes used interchangeably
with the word legal.

               FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY- is defined as the study of the fundamentals of

photography, its application to police work and the preparation of photographic evidence. It
consists of the legal aspects of photography that covers the following phases:
 Fundamental concepts of photography
 Application to police work
 Preparation of photographic evidence 
According to (Redsicker 2001), Forensic Photography is the art or science of documenting
photographically a crime scene and evidence for laboratory examination and analysis for
purposes of court trial.

           Photomicrography = Taking a magnified photograph of small object through attaching a

camera to the ocular of a compound microscope so as to show a minute details of the physical
evidence.

           Photomacrogaphy = Taking a magnified (enlarged) photograph of small object by

attaching an extended tube lens (macro lens) to the camera.

           Microphotography = is the process of reducing into a small strips of film a scenario. It is

first used in filmmaking.

           Macrophotography = used synonymously with photomacrogaphy.

          Telephotography = Is the process of taking photograph of a far object with the aid of a
long focus and Telephoto lens.
           Infra-red Photography- The art or process of photographing or recording unseen
objects by means of infra-red light.

           Ultra-Violet Photography- The art or process of photographing or recording unseen

objects by means of ultra-violet lights or filters.  It involves two methods: ultra-violet lamp and
ultra-violet filter.

            X-ray Photography- The process of photographing or recording the internal structure of

the body.
y- process

without y result of the process