CHAPTER 4

APPLICATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY
IN POLICE WORK
D. SURVEILLANCE PHOTOGRAPHY
The purpose of surveillance photography is to gather
pertinent facts or information, or evidence of illegal acts
of person's
E. FINGERPRINT PHOTOGRAPHY

Fingerprint is one of the most convincing means of

establishing the fact
 Fingerprints on paper.
Fingerprints on papers are not developed with powders but with
iodine fuming or the application

Fingerprints on mirror.
The problem is that the image of the camera lens can interfere
with the fingerprint pattern.
F. QUESTION DOCUMENT PHOTOGRAPHY

In no other type of forensic examination is photography

used so extensively in explaining points of proof to the
court than in questioned documents examination.

In this photographic work, the photographer should be

under the guidance and supervision of the document
examiner
b. Areas of photographic concern:

1.Handwritings

a. Form of the handwriting

b. Line quality
c. Patching
d. Sequence of crossed lines
e. Writing over fold
f. Differentiation of inks or pencils
2. Typewriting’s

a. Type design
b. Alignment
c. Slant
d. Evenness of impression
e. Defective characters
f. Substitution
g. Identity of the operator
3. Papers

a. Erasures
1. Mechanical- sidelight photography
2. Chemical- ultraviolet or infra-red photography
b. Paper identification (watermarks)-transmitted
light photography
c. Elimination of paper background-use of filters.
4.Other concerns

a. Faded writings
b. Indented writings
c. Obliterated writings
d. Restoring erased writing
e. Stamped out writings
f. Burned papers (charred or burnt)
g. Equipment and materials that are used in questioned documents
photography are the same as those used in fingerprint photography.
G. ULTRAVIOLET PHOTOGRAPHY

Ultraviolet photography is the taking of photograph using ultraviolet

rays or more specifically radiations having a wavelength of 30-40
nanometers of the electromagnetic spectrum.
 Methods of Ultraviolet Photography

1. Reflected method
2. Fluorescence Method
3. Light Sources
4. Forensic applications
H. INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY
refers to a special type of photography using
films or sensors that have infrared light
sensitivity.

Infrared photography is the taking of

photographs with radiations between 700-1000
nanometers of the electromagnetic spectrum.
There are two types of infrared photography- the reflected method and
the luminescence method.

1.Infrared Reflected Method

Load the camera with an infra-red film. Attach the filter on the camera
lens. Illuminate the subject with the appropriate

Light source then focus the lens of the camera as described earlier
than take the picture.
2.Infrared Luminescence Method

Some materials when illuminated with visible light especially in the

blue-green region but is devoid of any infrared radiation will
luminesce.
I.FORENSIC APPLICATONS

1. Chemical erasures in questioned documents

examinations
2. Obliterated writings
3. Charred or burnt documents
4. Presence of gunpowder on skin or clothing of a victim
that is covered with dried blood.
5. Blackout photography or the taking of photograph in
total darkness.