Introduction to Incident Scene

Photography
New Mexico State Police
Criminal Investigations Section
Crime Scene Team
 Learning Objectives
 Identify the requirements for a photo to be
admissible in a court of law
 Identify the elements of a good, technical
photograph
 Learning Objectives
 Identify the elements of technical photography
 Demonstrate how to properly photograph
footwear impressions
 Demonstrate how to properly photograph tire
impressions
 Demonstrate how to properly photograph
latent prints
Introduction to Incident Scene
Photography
 Introduction
 For police officers, photography has become
the primary way of documenting crime &
traffic collision scenes.
 Photography is a combination of art & science.
Why Take Photographs At A Crime
Scene?

 Photographs document the scene in a way people

can understand.
 Photographs can be used to recreate the crime and
to prove or disprove a suspect’s explanation.
 They can help a jury understand where and how
the crime was committed.
 A picture is worth a thousand words.
 To Be Admissible in Court

Fair
Not biased or prejudicial

Must not appeal to the emotions of the jury

Accurate
Technically correct

Form, Tone, Color and Scale

 To Be Admissible in Court

 Relevant
 Of value to the court and jury in making
decisions
 Chain of Custody must be maintained
 The photo must be identified
 Introduced in court by a person who is qualified to
identify it
 NM DPS Digital Imaging Policy
 Capture
 Take pictures in accordance with the manufacture's
instructions, DPS policy and your training and
experience.
 Do not view the images (other than by the camera's
built-in monitor) prior to the images being
transferred to CD.
 Storage
 Store the images onto a permanent media (CD) as
soon as possible. Once the images are stored onto a
CD, the CD will be treated as original evidence...
 NM DPS Digital Imaging Policy
 The CD should be labeled with a permanent (Sharpie) marker:
 Case #
 Item #
 Photographer's name
 Date images were captured & date transferred to disc
 Location where the images were captured
 Dissemination and image enhancement
 Before any enhancements are made, you must make a working
copy of the CD.
 An “Image-Processing Log" shall be kept for enhancements.
The log will detail all steps used to obtain the enhanced image.
The software (& version) shall be documented.
 Software shall be generally or scientifically accepted in the
photography community as a valid tool for enhancement.
Labeling the Disc as Evidence
 Label as
Original
 Case#
 Item#
 Case Agent
 Description
 Date taken
 Date to disc
 Photographer
 Elements of a Good, Technical
Photograph

 Must be correctly exposed

 Have maximum depth of field
 Have an accurate perspective
 Be in sharp focus
 Impression Evidence
 Orientation (overview and midrange shots)
 Show where the impression is located in the crime
scene.
 Close-up
 Use a scale on the same plane as the impression.
 Keep the film plane parallel to the plane of the
impression
 MUST USE A TRIPOD
 Lighting
 Block out ambient light with a large piece of
cardboard and use a strong light source at oblique
angle to show the best detail in the impression.
Footwear Impression
@ 90°
 Tire Impressions

 Photograph tire impressions in sections

showing one circumference of the tire.
 Taking overlapping photographs, with a tape
measure, parallel to the tire impression.
Tire Impressions
 Photography of Very Important
Vehicles
 Exterior Photos
 Use the “21 point” method
 Sometimes it is not possible to get all 21 photos
 Do your best

 If you have multiple vehicles involved in a crash

 Take the standard over-view photos of the ENTIRE scene
first
 Then, take 21 photos of each vehicle individually

 Then, take mid-range and close-up photos of the evidence

21 Point Method
Edge Front Edge

Diagonal Diagonal

Front Edge Front Edge

Front Axle Front Axle

Side Side

Rear Axle Rear Axle

Rear Edge Rear Edge

Diagonal Edge Rear Edge Diagonal

These 20 Photos + 1 Photo Directly Down = 21 Photos

Begin by Taking Over-view Photos of the Scene
Then, Take 21 Photos of Each Vehicle
Example of 21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
21 Photos of Each Vehicle
 You will not be able to
get all 21 shots due to
the position of the
vehicles
 Just do your best
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Interior of a Vehicle
Photographing the Tread Pattern
 Fingerprints
 Should be photographed before lifting
 Orientation shot to show location
 Consider using black & white film for greater
contrast
 Macro or close-up lens
 Scale on the same plane must be used
 90 degree shot
 Use a tripod
Fingerprints
 Tool marks & serial numbers
 Orientation photo
 Evidence at the scene
 Close-up photos
 Use a scale on the same plane as the evidence
 90 degree photo

 Oblique light to create small shadows in the detail

 Use a tripod.
Serial Number
Toolmarks
 Impression Evidence
 Orientation
 Show where the impression is located in the
overall crime scene.
 Lighting
 Block out the ambient light with an umbrella and
use a strong light source at an oblique angle to
show the best details.
 Close-up
 Use a scale on the same plane as the impression.
 Keep the film plane 90° to the impression
 Consider using a tripod
Footwear Impression
 Tire Impressions

 Photograph tire impressions in sections

showing one circumference of the tire.
 Taking overlapping photographs, with a tape
measure, parallel to the tire impression.
 Keep the film plane 90° to the impression
Tire Impressions
 Photography of Bloodstains

 Use color film

 Take orientation photos to show location
 Take close-up photos to show detail
 Keep the film plane 90° to the print
 L-shape ruler is preferred to get both width and
length of stain
 Consider using a tripod
 Photography of Bloodstains

 Use bounced lighting or diffused light.

 Oblique lighting works best when dealing with
stains on fabric (very low angles).
 May need additional magnification
 A macro lens or the macro feature on the camera
 A step-up lens
Overview, midrange, close up
Photos of bloodstains
Bloodstains @ 90° To the Floor
Bloodstains @ 90° to Wall
 Low Light Photography Issues
 We often need to photograph scenes in low light, the
following is an overview.

 The CSI Effect means that Juries no longer rely on just your
word. They want to see what you saw.

 Your ability to shoot in low light will depend on

 Ambient light
 Your photography equipment
 Lighting Equipment that you can supply
 DWI equipment, etc.
 Other resources available to you
 Fire Department lighting equipment, etc.
One Flash
Flash + Existing Light
 Flash & flashlight uses
 Bounce flash
 Light is bounced off white, reflective surface
 Fill flash
 To fill the shadow/shaded area
 Multiple flash
 Painting with light
 Flashlight
 Painting with light
 Direct
 One or more light sources at 45 degree angles
 Flash Photography
 Direct reflective
 Light is reflected directly off the subject into lens, and causes very high
contrast
 Oblique lighting
 Light source at low angle, usually to show detail by creating shadows
in the subject surface
 Diffused lighting
 An translucent material is placed between the light source and subject
 Transmitted lighting
 With transparent subjects the light source is transmitted through the
subject toward the lens
No Flash vs. Multiple Flash
No Flash vs. Multiple Flash
1, 2 & Multiple Flash
 The basics of low light photos
 Put your camera on a tripod
or sturdy surface
 turn your car off if that is
what you are using

 Put you camera on a manual

type setting (M)
 Set the aperture (A) as low as
it will go
 Set the shutter speed (S, Tv)
as slow as it will go

 Turn on the timer function,

turn off the flash
 The flash will automatically
make the shutter speed too
fast for this.
 The basics of low light photos
 Light up the scene with a flashlight,
and focus the camera.

 Press the button to take the photo, and

when the shutter opens (you hear the
click)
 Shine as many lights into the scene
from as many different angles as you
can until the shutter closes (it clicks
again)

 Don’t shine the light toward your

camera.

 Off shoe flashes are best, incandescent

bulb flashlights are OK, LEDs are not
so good (beam of light is too focused)

 Look at the back of your camera to see

if you need more or less light, and take
more photos.
 PHOTOS OF A.L.S. AND LUMINOL
The rules are different for these photos. They require additional training
and experience to do them correctly
The End