FORENSIC

PHOTOGRAPHY
A. DEFINITION OF TERMS:
1. Photography = Derived from the Greek word “Phos” or “Photos” which
means “light” and “Grapho” means “Writing”
or “Graphia” meaning “to Draw”. Sir John F. W. Herschel coined the word
photography when he first wrote a letter to
Henry Fox Talbot.

= Is the art and science of reproducing image by means of light through

some sensitized material with the aid of a
camera, Lens and its accessories and the chemical process required in order
to produced a photograph.
2. 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.
3. Police Photography = Is the application
of the principles of photography is
relation to the police work and in the
administration of justice.
4. Photograph = Is the mechanical and chemical
result of Photography. Picture and photograph are
not the same for a
picture is a generic term is refers to all kinds of
formed image while a photograph is an image that
can only be a product
of photography.
B. USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Personal Identification
= Personal Identification is considered to be the first
application of photography is police work. Alphonse
Bertillion
was the first police who utilized photography in police work
as a supplementary identification in his Anthropometry
system.
2. For Communication
= Photograph is considered to be one of the most universal
methods of communication considering that no other
language can be known universally than photograph.
3. For Record Purposes
= Considered to be the utmost used of photography in police work.
Different Views in photographing
a. General View
= taking an over-all view of the scene of the crime. It shows direction and location of
the crime scene.
b. Medium View
= Is the taking of the photograph of the scene of the crime by dividing it into section.
This view will best
view the nature of the crime.
c. Close-up View
= Is the taking of individual photograph of the evidence at the scene of the
crime. It is design to show the
details of the crime.
d. Extreme Close-up View
= Commonly designed in laboratory photographing using some
magnification such as Photomacrography
and photomicrography.
4. For Preservation
= Crime scene and other physical evidence requires photograph
for preservation purposes. Crime scene cannot be
retain as is for a long period of time but through photograph the
initial condition of the scene of the crime can be preserved
properly.
5. For Discovering and Proving
= Photography can extend human
vision in discovering and proving
things such as:
a. The use of Magnification
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 = photographs shrunk to microscopic scale
Macrophotography = is all about showcasing a subject larger
than it is in real life
Telephotography = Is the process of taking photograph of a far
object with the aid of a long focus and
Telephoto lens.
b. Used of Artificial
Light such
as X-ray,
Ultra-violet and
Infra-red rays to
show something
which may not be
visible with the aid
of human eye
6. For Court Exhibits
= Almost all evidence presented in court before formally be accepted
requires that they satisfy the basic requirements
for admissibility which is relevancy and competency. A question of
relevancy is usually proved by proving the origin of the
evidence and its relation to the case and this is usually supplemented by
photograph of the evidence giving reference as to
where it came from.
Evidence presented in court once accepted became known as Exhibit.
Either Exhibit 1,2,3 etc. for the defense or Exhibit A, B, C etc for the
prosecution.
7. Crime Prevention
= with the used of video camera (hidden camera) and other advanced
photographic equipment crimes are being
detected more easily and even to the extent of preventing them from
initially occurring.
8. Police Training = Modern facilities are now being used as instructional
material not only in police training as well as in other
agencies.
9. Reproducing and Copying
= With the use of photography any number of reproduction
of the evidence can be made those giving unlimited
opportunity for its examination and even allow other
experts or person to examine the specimen without
compromising the
original.
C. ESSENTIALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Light = is an electromagnetic energy that travels in a form of a wave with the speed of 186, 000 miles per
second.
2. Camera = a light tight box designed to block unwanted or
unnecessary light from reaching the sensitized material.
3. Lens = is the light gathering mechanism of the camera
that collect the reflected light coming from the object to
form the image.
4. Sensitized material = composed of a highly sensitized
chemical compound which is capable of being
transformed into an image through the action of light
and with some chemical processes. ( Film and Photo
Paper).
5. Chemical Process = is the process necessary for reducing
silver halides into a form so as a latent image and a
positive image be made resulting to what we called Photograph
1. Types of Light
Lights can largely be classified into visible and invisible light.
a. Visible Light = Is the type of light that produces different sensation when
reach the human eye. It is the type of light, which
is capable of exciting the retina of the human eye.
b. Invisible Light = lights in which their wavelength are either too short or
too long to excite the retina of the human eye i.e. Xray, Ultrat-violet and
Infra-red lights.
2. Photographic Rays
a. X-ray
=Light with the wavelength between .01 to 30 millimicrons. It is produced by passing
an electric current through a special type of vacuum tube. It was incidentally
discovered by Conrad Welhelm Roentgen. This type of light works in the
principle of shadow photography.
b. Ultra-violet ray (Before the violet)
= Radiation having a wavelength of 30 to 400 nanometers designed to photograph
fingerprints in multi colored background,
documents that are altered, decipherment of erase writing and developing invisible
writing. It is commercially known as
“black Light”.
c. Infra-red (Beyond the Red)
= Considered as the photographic rays with the longest wavelength ranging from 700 to
1000 millimicrons. It is designed to
take photograph of over-written documents, obliterated writing, and charred documents
or for black out photography. It is
sometimes referred to as heat rays).
3. Light Source
A. Natural Light= are those
light which come to
existence without the
intervention of man e.i.
Sunlight, moonlight
and starlight.
1. Bright Sunlight
= object in an open space
casts a deep and uniform
shadow and the object
appears glossy.
2. Hazy Sunlight
= object in an open space casts
a transparent or bluish shadow.
This is due to thin clouds that
cover the sun.
3. Dull Sunlight
= object in an open space cast no shadow due to thick clouds covering
the sun.
B. Artificial Light = otherwise known as
man-made light e.g. fluorescent bulb,
incandescent bulb and photoflood lamp.
1. Continuous radiation
Photoflood lamp= is likewise known as
Reflectorized light or Spot light. It is a
light with a reflector at the back
which focus the light to the object the
common wattages of this lamp is 500
watts.
Flourescent Lamp = are tube
lamps in which the walls are
coated with fluorescent
powders with both ends is
mounted with a holder that
serves as the reflector. This is
commonly used by everybody
more than it is used in
photographing.
Incandescent bulb = are bulb
with a wire filament
connecting two wires which
sustain the electrical charge
that produces the light.
Everybody likewise commonly
uses this although it is more
expensive in terms of electrical
consumptions.
2. Short Duration type
Flash bulb = are chemical lamps, as it
generate lights by the rapid combination
of metal in oxygen. The bulb
can be used only once as the bulb is
busted when fired electrically. There are
thin filaments inside the bulb with
two electrical contacts. When the
current flows through the filament, it
becomes incandescent and ignites the
explosive primer that ignites the
aluminum foil that burns, giving flash of
tense light.
Electronic Flash = produces light by an
instantaneous electrical in charges between
two electrodes in a gas
filled glass bulbs. The electrical energy for
the discharge is kept in capacitor or
condenser. It usually ranges from
1/300 second and 1/5000 second, and
because of this, subject in fast motion can
be arrested or stopped in the
photographs.
4. SENSITIZED MATERIAL
= It refers to the film and
photographic paper that
basically composed of emulsion
containing Silver Halides
suspended
in gelatin and coated on a
transparent or reflective
support.
Parts of the Sensitized Material
1. Emulsion = is that part of the film or photographic paper which
contains the silver grains which is the one sensitive
to light. In a colored film this emulsion surface can be composed of
three layers (Blue, Green and Red) with filters
intervening.
2. Anti Halation Backing = is the one designed to hold back the light
and prevents halation.
3. Base = Support the emulsion
I. Types of Film
A. According to Use
1. Black and White Film = usually represented by a prefix or a suffix “Pan” or
“Ortho” and
generally used in black and white photography. Examples are Ortholith film, Tri X-
Pan and Pan
X-plus.
2. Colored Film = can be divided into two: the Negative type and the reversal type of
colored film.
The former is usually having names ending in color while the word chrome
represents the latter.
e.g. Blue sensitive film, Ultra-violet film, Infra-red film, Orthochromatic film and
Panchromatic film.
B. According to Spectral Sensitivity
Spectral sensitivity = is the responsiveness of the film emulsion to the different
wavelength of the light
course.
1. Blue – Sensitive film = sensitive to U.V. light and Blue Color.
2. Orthochromatic Film = Sensitive to U.V. Light up to the green. ( popular in the
marker as
KODALITH FILM)
3. Panchromatic film = Sensitive to U.V. Light up to red (sensitive to all colors of the
visible light)
3.1. Process Panchromatic film = permit short exposures under average lighting
condition and has the advantage of the grain structure.
3.2. Grain Panchromatic film
3.3. High Speed Panchromatic film designed originally for photographing
object under
adverse lighting condition.
4. Infra-red Film = Sensitive to all colors and to infra-red light.
FILM SPEED (Emulsion Speed)
This refers to the degree of sensitivity of the film to light.
1. ASA (American Standards Association) = this is expressed in arithmetic
value system. The bigger the number the
more sensitive the film is.
ASA 10, 20 , 30 , 40,50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000
 2. DIN ( Deutche Industre Normen) = expressed in Logarithmic value system. Used in
the same principle as the ASA.

Din 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33 etc.

3. ISO (International Standard Organization) expressed as
combination of ASA and DIN rating.
II. Photographic Paper
It is that sensitized material that will record the visible image in
the final development and become the
photograph.
Types of Photographic Papers
A. According to Emulsion Used (Silver halides content)
1. Silver Chloride paper = used for contact printing, the size of the positive print is the
same as the size of the
negative used. Sensitivity to light is low and give blue-black tones when properly
developed.
2. Silver Bromide paper = used projection, printing and enlarging process. This is one of
the most ideal photo
paper used for police photography. Will give a black tone when properly developed.
3. Silver Chlorobromide paper = used both for projection and contact printing. Slow
emulsion.
4. Variable contract paper = combines the contrast range in one paper it uses a special
chlorobromide
emulsion that produces varying contrast responses upon exposure to different colors of
light.
b. Semi-mate paper = obscure the fine details
c. Rough papers = used for large prints or where breath rather than detail is
necessary.
b.3. Color
a. White = better used in police photography.
b. Cream = preferred for pictorial effect, portraits, landscape or when
warmth effect is desired.
c. Buff papers = prepare for tone prints
C. According to Contrast (grade)
1. Velox No. 0 = used for printing extremely contrast negative or extremely
exposed film.
2. Velox No. 1 = used for high contrast negative (over exposed film)
3. Velox No. 2 = used for normal exposed film
4. Velox No. 3 = used for negative with weak contrast (under exposed)
5. Velox No. 4 = used to provide sufficient contrast to compensate for very thin or
weak negatives. It is useful
imprinting which high contrast is desired.
6. Velox No. 5 = for flat negative that are unprintable.
5. CAMERA
Is a light tight box with light gathering device and a means of blocking
unwanted or unnecessary light from reaching the
sensitized material.
Basically, camera can produce image with its four-(4) basic parts such as
light tight box, lens, and shutter, Holder of
sensitized material.
Essential Parts of a Camera
1. Light Tight Box – a box designed to keep light out and serve as a frame to hold other
parts.
2. Lens – designed to collect or to focus the
reflected light from an object to form an image
on the film.
3. Shutter – designed to control the time during
which the light reaches the film
4. Holder of the sensitized material – located at
the opposite side of the lens designed to hold
firmly the sensitized material
to prevent the formation of the multiple or
blurred image
5. View finder – designed to determine the field
of view of the camera or the extent of the
coverage of the given lens
OTHER PARTS OF A CAMERA
A. Viewing System
Is that part of the camera which provides the means of showing to the photographer
the entire scene coverage that can be recorded in the sensitized material.
B. Film Advancer (film advance lever or knob) =designed to transfer the exposed film
to the other side or to the
take up spool and the unexposed film will be the opposite side of the lens for
another exposure.
C. Shutter speed = is that part of the camera which regulates the time exposure of
the film thus, affecting the amount of light reaching the sensitized material. It is
usually expressed in a fraction of a second.
1/1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 etc.
The speed number in the left is always two times powerful in
terms of light gathering than that of the right number
Using a fast shutter speed the photographer can stop or
“freeze” the action of a person provided that necessary
adjustment on the lens opening be made in order to maintain
normal exposure.
D. Lens Aperture = the ratio between the diameter of the
whole lens in relation to the focal length of the lens. It
is the light gathering power of the lens. Otherwise known as
lens opening or relative aperture and it is expressed in F-
number. f 2.8 f-4 f-5.6 f-8 f-11 f-16 The lower the f-number,
the bigger the lens opening and the bigger the lens opening
the greater the volume of air that will passed through the
lends and reach the sensitized material. If the objective of a
photographer is obtain the widest possible coverage of the
lens in which objects are all sharp, It will be advisable to used
a smaller lens opening.
E. Focusing = is that mechanism of a camera designed to control the
degree of sharpness of the object to be photograph. It is usually
obtained by estimating the distance from the camera and that of the
object that will make a sharp or clear image.
TYPES OF THE CAMERA
1. View Finder Type – it is considered as the smallest and
the simplest type of camera
2. Single Lens Reflex Camera – it is a
type of camera best suited for
police work due to its
interchangeability of the lens
3. Twin Lens Reflex Camera – A type
of camera with dual lens, one for
focusing and the other for forming
the image.
4. View or Press type – is
considered the biggest and
expensive type of camera, used for
movie making
5. LENS
= It is the image-forming device of the lens that actually has a greater
effect on the quality of the image to be formed.
= a medium or system which converge or diverge light rays passing
through it to form an image.
= Can be a glass or transparent material, which permit light to pass
through and change the direction of light.
CLASSIFICATION OF LENSES
1. According to the type of image to be
produced
a. Positive or Convex Lens (Converging Lens)
Characterized by the fact that it is thicker at the
center and thinner at the side which is capable
of bending the light together and forms the
image inversely.
b. Negative or Concave Lens (diverging Lens)
Characterized by the fact that it is thinner at
the center and thicker at the side and forms
the virtual image on the same side of the lens.
2. According to Degree of Corrections
a. Meniscus Lens = lens that has no correction.
b. Rapid Rectilinear Lens – lens corrected of distortion
c. Anastigmat Lens – correcting astigmatism
d. Achromatic Lens – correcting chromatic
aberration
e. Apochromatic Lens – correcting both
astigmatism and chromatic aberration
INHERRRENT LENS DEFECTS
1. Spherical Aberration= Inability of the lens to focus light passing the side of the lens
producing an image that is sharp in
the center and blurred at the side.
2. Coma lens aberration = (Also known as
lateral aberration) = Inability of the lens to
focus light that travels straight or lateral, thus
making
it blurred while the light reaching the lens
oblique is the one the is transmitted sharp.
3. Curvature of Field = the relation of the
images of the different point are incorrect with
respect to one another.

pincustion distortion barrel distortion

unditorted image
5. Chromatic Aberration = Inability of the lens to focus light of varying wavelength. The
lens refracts rays of short
wavelength more strongly than those of longer wavelength and therefore bringing
blue rays to a shorter focus than
the red.
6. Astigmatism lens aberration = is a form of
lens defects in which the horizontal and vertical
axis are not equally magnified. Inability of the
lens to focus both horizontal and vertical lines.
7. Chromatic Difference of Magnification
The change of image distance with
wavelength is known as chromatic
aberration, and the variation of
magnification with wavelength is known
as chromatic difference of magnification,
or lateral colour.
8. lens Flares = condition of the lens producing
multiple images.
LENS CHARACTERISTICS
1. Focal Length – is the distance measured from the optical
center of the lens is set to focus at infinite position. As
according to focal lenses may be classified as:
a. Wide Angle or Short Focus = with focal
length not longer than the diagonal half
of the negative. Useful in taking
photograph at short distance with wider
area coverage
.
b. Normal or Medium Focus = with focal length
approximately equal but not longer than twice
the diagonal half
of the negative.
c. Long or Telephoto Lens = with focal length longer than
twice the diagonal half of the negative. Best used in
long distance photographing but with narrow area
coverage.
d. ZOOM lens = lens with
variable focal length or that
which can be adjusted
continuously by the movement
of one
or more elements in the lens
system.
2. Relative Aperture – the light gathering power
of the lens expressed in F-number
a. Depth of Field – is the distance measured
from the nearest to the farthest object in
apparent sharp focus. A wide aperture gives you
a shallow depth of field (only the foreground is
sharp) A narrow aperture gives you a deep
depth of field (everything is sharp)
b. Hyperfocal distance = Is the nearest distance
at which when a lens is focused with a given
particular diaphragm opening will gives the
maximum depth of field.
b. Hyperfocal distance = Is the nearest
distance at which when a lens is focused
with a given particular diaphragm
opening will gives the maximum depth
of field.
6. CHEMICAL PROCESS
The process of making the latent image visible
and permanent.
a. Development (Use of either D-76, Dektol or Universal Solution)
= Is the process necessary for reducing the silver halides to form the
image.
Elon, Hydroquenone = used as main developing agents
b. Stop bath = normally composed of water with little amount of dilute
acetic acid that serves as a means to
prevent contamination between the developer and the acid fixer.
c. Fixation = Is the process by which all unexposed silver halides are
dissolved or removed from the emulsion
surface and making the image more permanent.
Sodium Thiosulfate (hypo) is the main fixing agent that dissolves
unexposed silver halides.
Other chemicals used:
Acetic Acid and Boric acid = serves as neutralizer
Sodium Sulfate = serves as the preservative
Potassium Bromide = restrainer or hardener
Sodium bicarbonate and borax powder = serves as accelerator
Dodging = is the process of eliminating unwanted portion of the negative
during enlarging.
Cropping = is the process of omitting an object during the process of enlarging
and printing.
Vignetting = is the gradual fading of the image towards the side through skillful
adjustment on the dodging board.
gradual fading of the image towards the side through skillful
adjustment on the dodging board.
Dye toning = is the process designed in changing the color tone of
the photograph.
Burning-In = refers to additional exposure on a desired portion of
the negative used for purposes of making a balance
exposure