FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IN
FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

ELEAZAR E. LABATA, MSCJ

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COURSE OVERVIEW

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This module on Forensic Photography is created primarily to help the students in their pursuit to learn
and gain knowledge in forensic investigation. This module was designed for on-line learning containing basic
aspects of police photography. Include in this instructional module is the laboratory manual in which students
can perform selected laboratory exercises to further improve their knowledge and skills.
A. What is the course all about?

B. What knowledge the learner acquire at the end of the course?

At the end of the topic the learner shall be able to;

1. Appreciate and comprehend the concept of forensic photography;

2. Comprehend the methods of crime scene investigation;
3. Understand the process of collecting evidences ;
4. Appreciate the importance forensic photography in the solution of the case.

Name of student: __________________________________

Contact No. : __________________________________

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Read me: To be the best version of yourself, “STOP thinking I cannot do it rather always ask yourself how
I can do it”.

PRE-TEST

FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

Test I. Multiple Choice

Instruction: kindly answer the questions with comprehension.

1. It deals with the study of photography, its application to law enforcement work and the preparation of
photographs for court presentation.
a. Modern photography
b. Forensic photography
c. Police photography
2. It is defined as an art of producing images of objects upon a surface sensitive to the chemical action of
light with the used of an image forming device.
a. Photography
b. Photomicrography
c. Photomicrography
3. What is known as developed sensitive material??
a. Film
b. Positive
c. Photograph
d. Negative
4. The first application of photography in law enforcement was confined to the problem of….
a. Personal identification
b. Investigation
c. Surveillance
5. It is a form of electronic energy that excites the retina of the eyes and makes things visible?
a. Light
b. Radar
c. Matter
6. The average speed of light as it travels in the atmosphere is,
a. 120 m/s
b. 186,000 m/s
c. 16,000 m/s
7. Which of the following permits one to open and close the lens of a camera completely, so that light may
pass through and expose the film?
a. Light tight box
b. Lens
c. Shutter

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8. To regulate the amount of light entering into the camera lens, the photographer should;
a. Know how to adjust shutter speed
b. Increase the numerical value of the aperture
c. Decrease the number of the film speed
d. Increase the numerical value of the shutter speed dial
9. In photography, what determines how effectively a moving object can be stopped, that is,
how sharply it can be reproduced without blurring in the final image?
a. Focus
b. Shutter speed
c. Aperture
d. Lens
10. A devise which allow light to enter through the lens for a predetermined time interval.
A. holder of sensitive material
B. view finder
C. shutter
D. range finder
11. The following are different energies in the electromagnetic spectrum in which light isconsidered as
visible light except;
a. Cosmic rays
b. Gamma rays
c. X-rays
d. Ultraviolet rays
12. What happen when white light pass into a prism?
a. The prism breaks its white light in its different wavelength producing the colors of the
rainbow
b. Production of light may occur
c. The light pass may bend into another direction
d. All of the above
13. Red, Yellow and Violet, which of those enumerated colors is consider as presence of all colors?
a. Red
b. Yellow
c. Violet
d. None of the above
14. The deflection or bouncing back of light when it hits a smooth and shiny surface.
a. Regular reflection
b. Diffused reflection
c. Refraction
15. When light hits a rough or uneven but glossy object. What kind of reflection may occur?
a. Regular reflection
b. Diffused reflection
c. Refraction

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16. A lighting condition where objects in open space cast a deep and uniform shadow.
a. Hazy sunlight
b. Bright sunlight
c. Dull sunlight
17. What composed of black and white film?
a. Emulsion
b. Gray
c. Base
d. All of the above
18. The ASA, DIN and ISO are three different indicators of emulsion speed. This statement is____
a. True
b. Correct
c. False
d. A and B
19. What part of the film that support the emulsion and the gray?
a. Gray
b. Emulsion
c. Base
20. What part of the film that prevent the light to penetrate to the base?
a. Base
b. Gray
c. Emulsion
21. ASA 200 will admit light twice double than ISO 200/21. This statement is_____
a. Correct
b. False
c. Truth cannot be determine
22. What kind of film that is sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, blue, red, green or all colors?
a. Blue sensitive film
b. Infra-red film
c. Panchromatic film
23. Methods of image formation which produces an image entirely free from distortion.
a. Lens method
b. Shadow method
c. Pinhole
24. A type of lens that is thinner both side and thicker at the center part of the lens.
a. Convex lens
b. Concave lens
c. Negative lens
25. What happen to the light when it passes to the convex lens?
a. The light will disperse in opposite direction
b. The light will bend meeting at one point
c. The light pass will depend on the characteristics of the lens

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26. Which of the following is not a purpose of crime scene photography?

A. To record the original scene and related areas
B. To record the initial appearance of physical evidence
C. To provide records to the other investigator for future use.
D. None of the above
27. There are major points of qualification of photographs in court which includes the following except;
A. The object pictured must be material to the issue
B. Photograph must be accurate
C. Photographs shows distortion or misrepresent the scene
D. All of the above
28. The very purpose of taking photographs of the scene is;
A. To show the scene exactly as it was when you first saw it
B. To secure the crime scene
C. To record all physical evidences found at the crime scene
D. none of the above
29. In crime scene, if something was move before you arrived, try to reconstruct the scene as it was, the
photographs should shows the original scene and not the scene as you found it. This statement;
A. true
B. false
30. If homicide happens inside the house, the photographer should first take photographs to…..
A. Close-up photograph to the wounds
B. Point of entry
C. Exterior view of the building
D. None of the above
31. The cardinal rule of crime scene photography is,
A. Get a complete series of picture
B. Do not disturb the scene until evidence is identified, recorded and photograph
C. Follow the four corner approach
D. Record all the data
32. An overview photographs refers to,
A. Shots that shows a key details
B. Shots that shows important object and its and its immediate surroundings
C. Shots that covers the entire scene to bring out the relationship among objects
D. None of the above
33. A process of photographing objects directly enlarged to the negative and magnified 1 to 9x. It
is useful in photographing questioned documents, bullets for comparison which includes
FINGERPRINTS.
A. Infrared photography
B. Ultra violet rays photography
C. Photomicrography
D. Photomacrography
34. A process of taking photographs in a minute objects wherein it can magnified 10x up from the original size.
A. Infrared photography
B. Photomacrography
C. Photomicrography
D. All of the above

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35. In case of burglaries in a residential area, the photographer should take photographs to the
following except;
A. Exterior of the building
B. Point of entry
C. Close up of body wounds
D. Area from which valuable material is removed
36. Upon arriving at the crime scene, the primary tasked of a police photographer is,
A. Take preliminary photographs before the evidence is altered.
B. Take a complete set of pictures to all evidences left by the suspect.
C. Collect and record evidences
D. None of the above
37. When light rays get in contact with transparent object, what happen to the behavior of light?
A. increase in the speed of light
B. angle of incidence by the light cause by the density of the object
C. change in the speed of light when passing from one medium to another
D. all of the above
38. The higher the numerical value of the shutter speed dial, the opening and closing of shutter will become?
A. slow to allow greater amount of light
B. fast to allow smaller amount of light to reach the sensitive material
C. normal to allow the exact amount of light to reach the sensitive material
D. fast to allow the greater amount of light
39. Diverging of light rays may occur when the photographer used a type lens called,
A. concave lens
B. convex lens
C. lens
D. none of the above
40. To regulate the amount of light that will enter into the camera photographer should;
A. adjust the shutter speed
B. knows how to adjust the lens aperture
C. decrease the number of the film speed
D. increase the numerical value of the shutter speed dial
41. The type of film according to color sensitivity that is sensitive to all colors and most commonly used in
investigative photography.
A. Non- Chromatic
B. orthochromatic
C. Pan-Chromatic
D. anto- chromatic
42. Photomicrography is the process of taking photograph through,
A. microscope
B. close-up lens
C. filter
D. none of the above

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43. ASA & ISO rating is indicative of,

A. emulsion speed
B. color sensitiveness
C. shutter speed
D. speed of light
44. Mechanical and chemical result of photography is called as____
A. photograph
B. print
C. film
D. filter
45. It is an art or science which deals with reproduction of images through the action of light with the aid of
camera and chemical process.

A. photography
B. evidence
C. printed copy
D. micro film

II. How far do you learn the topics? Kindly answer the essay questions to measure your comprehension
on the topics.

1. Discuss the composition of black and white film

2. What is range finder of the camera?
3. What is the use of shutter speed?

Chapter 1

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Course content:

DEFINITION OF TERMS

BASIC PARTS OF THE CAMERA

AND ITS FUNCTIONS

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF
PHOTOGRAPHY

FORENSIC CRIME SCENE

INVESITGATION

Author’s concept

OBJECTIVES
_____________________________________________________________________________________

What knowledge the learner acquires at the end of the topic?

At the end of the topic the learner will be able to;

1. Comprehend the historical background of Forensic Photography

2. Appreciate its critical contribution towards the solution of the crime

Learning plan
Learning Activities Assessment Task
1. Asking essay questions thru module Providing answers thru paper or E-platform
or E-platform
2. E-Reporting Rubric assessment

Forensic Photography - sometimes referred to as police photography, forensic imaging or crime scene photography. - is
the art of producing an accurate reproduction of a crime scene or an accident using photography for the benefit of a

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court or to aid in an investigation.

Photography - is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light. The word photography was
derived from the Greek word "phos" - light and "graphe" - drawing.

Photograph - is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface usually photographic film or electronic
imager.

Sir John Herschel - made the word photography known to the world in a lecture before the royal society of London on
1839.

Camera - is a device that records and stores images.

Forensic photography - sometimes referred to as police photography, forensic imaging or crime scene photography. - is the
art of producing an accurate reproduction f a crime scene or an accident using photography for the benefit of a court or to
aid in an investigation.

Photography - is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light. The word photography was
derived from the Greek word "phos" - light and "graphe" - drawing.

Photograph - is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface usually photographic film or electronic imager.

Sir John Herschel - made the word photography known to the world in a lecture before the royal society of London on
1839.

Camera - is a device that records and stores images.

History of camera

 Mo Ti - 5th century BC Chinese philosopher who noted that a pin hole can form an inverted and focused image
when light passes through the hole and into a dark area. He is the first recorded person to have exploited this
phenomenon to trace the inverted image to create a picture.

 Aristotle - in 4th century BC, described observing a partial solar eclipse in 330 BC by seeing the image of the sun
projected through the small spaces between the leaves of the tree.

 Ibn Al-Haytham (Alhazen) - an Egyptian scientist who wrote about observing a solar eclipse through a pin hole and
he described how a sharper image could be produced by making the opening of the pin hole smaller.

 Roger Bacon - English philosopher and Franciscan friar who in his study of optics, included a discussion of the
physiology of eyesight, the anatomy of the eyes and brain and considered light, distance, position, size, direct
vision, reflected vision and refraction, mirrors and lenses.

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 Johannes Kepler - a German mathematician and astronomer who applied the actual name of camera obscura and
later added a lens and made the apparatus transportable in the form of a tent.

 Robert Boyle - a British scientist who, with his assistant Robert Hooke developed a portable camera in the 1660.

 Johann Zahn - in 1685, built the first camera obscura that was small enough for practical use as a portable drawing
aid because the only way to preserve the images produced by the camera was to manually trace them.

 Joseph Nicephore Niepce - was a french inventor who is noted for producing the first known photographs in 1825
by using a sliding wooden box camera made by Charles and Vincent Chevalier in Paris.

 1920 - the electronic video camera tube was invented, starting a line of development that eventually resulted in
digital cameras which largely supplanted film cameras after the turn of the 21st century.

 William Henry Fox Talbot - a British inventor and pioneer of photography. He was the inventor of calotype process,
the precursor to most photographic processes of the 19th and 20th century.

 Lumiere Brothers - introduced the autochrome, the first commercially successful color process.

 Kodachrome - the first modern integral tripack color film, was introduced by Kodak in 1935. It captured the three
basic color components in a multi layer emulsion.

camera obscura

camera obscura

Camera obscura - obscura means dark or darkened chamber room, is an optical device that projects an image of its
surroundings on a screen. It is used in drawing and for entertainment and was one of the inventions that led to
photography. The camera obscura is the forerunner to the photographic camera.

Basic Modern Camera Parts

1. Lens - the light enters through the lens, this is
where photo process begins.
2. View Finder - is what the photographer looks
through to compose and in many cases to focus,
the picture.
3. Body - the basic most part of a camera. It is the

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box that holds the film and the camera controls.

4. Shutter Release - is a button found on many
cameras used to take the picture.
5. Aperture - is a hole or an opening thorough which
light travels. The aperture affects the image's
exposure by changing the diameter of the lens
opening which control the amount of light reaching
the image sensor.
6. Image Sensor - converts the optical image to an
electronic signal.
7. Memory Card - stores all the image information.
8. LCD Screen - typically replaced the view finder.
9. Flash - provide extra light during dim, low light
situations.
10. User Control

Exposure - total amount of light allowed to fall on the photographic medium during the process the of taking photograph.

Film Speed - is the measure of a photographic films sensitivity to light.

Shutter Cycle - is the process of the shutter opening, closing and resetting to where it is ready to open again.

Shutter - is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period of time for the purpose of exposing photographic film
or light sensitive electronic sensor to light to capture a permanent image of a scene.

Red Eye Effect - is the common appearance of red pupils in color photographs of eyes. It occurs when using a photographic
flash very close to the camera lens in ambient low light.

Photographic Emulsion - is a light sensitive colloid such as gelatin, coated into a substance. In silver gelatin photography,
the emulsion consists of silver halide crystals suspended in gelatin and the substance may be glass, plastic film, paper or
fabric. Important Personalities in Police Photography

*Joseph Nicephore Niepce - was able to obtain camera images on papers sensitized with silver chloride solution in 1816.He
invented a photographic process which he called "heliography" meaning "writing of the sun"

*Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre - invented "Daguerreotype", an

early photograph produced on a silver or silver-covered copper plate.It formed an image directly on the silver surface of a
metal plate.It was a positive process,thus,it yielded one of a kind images.

*William Henry Fox Talbot - invented a process called calotype, a photographic process by which a large number of prints
could be produced from a paper negative.Calotype use paper with surface fibers impregnated with light sensitive
compounds.

Calotype vs. Daguerre - fixation in calotype was only partial while

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images in daguerreotype were made permanent with the use of

hypo (short for hyposulfite thiosulfate,sodium thiosulfate or a
solution of thiosulfate).
Sodium thiosulfate or hypo is a hygroscopic (readily taken up and
retaining moisture) crystalline salt used especially as a
photographic fixing agent and a reducing or bleaching agent.

*John Frederick William Herchel - coined the term photography and applied the terms negative and positive to
photography.He made improvements in photographic processes, particularly in inventing the cyanotype process and
variations (such as the chrysotype) the precursors of the modern blueprint process.He discovered sodium thiosulfate to be
a solvent of silver halides in 1819, and informed Talbot and Daguerre of his discovery that this "hyposulfite of soda" (hypo)
could be used as a photographic fixer, to fix pictures and make them permanent after experimentally applying it in 1839.

*Richard Leach Maddox - was an English photographer and physician who invented light weight gelatin negative plates for
photography in 1871.

Definition of Terms:

Photography - To write with light,from two Greek words, Phos - light and Graphia - write.

Police Photography - It is an art or science which deals with the study of the principles of photography, the reproduction of
photographic evidence, and its application to police work.

Forensic Photography - the art or science of photographically documenting a crime scene and evidence for laboratory
examination and analysis for purposes of court trial.

1. Take photographs of the following:

a. crime scene
b. suspects.
c. detainees
d. prisoners
f. apprehended persons
g. applicants for clearances
h. military and civilian personnel
i. unknown cadaver
j. applicant to possess firearm
k. other physical evidence

2. Conduct comparative examination and analysis of questioned

photographs or pictures to the known photographs.
3. Process color and black and white film, print, reduce and enlarge
picture.
4. Reproduce picture and other printed matters.

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5. Compose portrait by means of portrait composition.

6. Provides photographic intrusion detection devices.
7. Maintain Rogues Gallery (a collection of pictures of persons arrested
as criminals)

Chapter 2
TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Course content:

Police Photography

Ultra violet Forensic

Photograp Photograp
hy hy

Infrared Photography

Author’s concept

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OBJECTIVES
_____________________________________________________________________________________

What knowledge the learner acquires at the end of the topic?

At the end of the topic the learner will be able to;

1. Comprehend the difference among the types of photography mention above;

2. Understand the process of taking photographs;
3. Comprehend the principle of crime scene investigation;
4. Appreciate how forensic photography works towards conviction of suspect.

Learning plan
Learning Activities Assessment Task
1. Asking essay questions thru Providing answers thru paper or E-platform
module or E-platform
2. E-Reporting Rubric assessment

POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY:

Police Photography is the study of the general practices, methods, and steps in taking
pictures of the crime scene, physical evidences, and other circumstances that can be used as
criminal evidences or for law enforcement purposes.

FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY:

Forensic photography is that field covering the legal application of photography in

criminal jurisprudence and criminal investigation. It is that branch of forensic science dealing
with the:
• application of photography in law enforcement

SPECIAL USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY

1. INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY Infrared photography is the recording of images

formed by infrared radiation.
Infrared rays which are invisible, have a longer wavelength than visible light. They
can penetrate fogs that scatters the waves of visible light. For this reason, infrared
photographs often much clearer than ordinary photographs. Pictures can be taken with
infrared rays even at night or in complete darkness.

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Uses in Law Enforcement

1. Questioned documents. Even crossed-out words or writings on a charred piece of

paper can be read if photographs of them are taken with infrared rays.
2. Aerial photography.
3. Coniferous (darker) and deciduous (lighter) growth is differentiated.
4. Surveillance photography.
5. Detection of gunshot-powder burns, stains and irregularities in cloth.
6. It can differentiate inks, colors and pigments that appears visually the same;
7. It is also valuable in detecting stains on cloth, including blood stains that are not visible to
the eye; and,
8. Powder residues surrounding bullet holes in cloth, even when the fabric is dark in color or
bloodstained, may be made visible by infrared.

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Chapter 3
Importance of Crime Scene Photography

Course content:

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save
money
preserve
refresh
time and
memory
event
help
solve
crime
Author’s concept

OBJECTIVES
_____________________________________________________________________________________

What knowledge the learner acquires at the end of the topic?

At the end of the topic the learner will be able to;

1. Comprehend the concept of taking photographs;

2. Understanding on the basic parts of camera;

3. knows the factors that might affects in taking of photographs;

Learning plan
Learning Activities Assessment Task
1. Asking essay questions thru module or E- Providing answers thru paper or E-platform
platform
2. E-Reporting Rubric assessment

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USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Identification – a photograph is used to identify the victim. Etc.
2. Record- photograph serve as a permanent record.
3. Presentation
4. Substitution
5. Deciding factor – deciding factor either conviction or acquittal

Forensic photographer
The one who take photographs using their knowledge and specific forensic procedure for
court presentation.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPER.
A. Technical skills
B. knowledge in photography
C. experience
D. attention to details
E. photographer’s photograph will stand up in court

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Close up photograph –
Mug shot –
Crime scene –
TECHNICQUES AND PROCEDURE:
“Observe cardinal rule of crime scene investigation”

Chapter 4
Crime Scene Investigation

Course content:

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Rape Murder, Homicide

Outdoor Crime Scene Investigation

Indoor approach

Author’s Concept

OBJECTIVES
_____________________________________________________________________________________

What knowledge the learner acquires at the end of the topic?

At the end of the topic the learner will be able to;

1. Comprehend the concept investigation;

2. Comprehend the types of crime scene search;

3. Internalize the golden rule of crime scene investigation.

Learning plan

Taking Learning Activities Assessment Task of

1. Asking essay questions thru module or E- Providing answers thru paper or E-platform
platform
2. E-Reporting Rubric assessment
photographs related to sex offenses

Rape - The object of interest is the body and surroundings, evidence of physical struggle, foreign hairs
or fibers maybe discovered and should be photographs.

Death by hanging –

A. photographs the subject at a distance from four view showing the full body

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B. close up picture showing the knot, bruise marks and discoloration of the body.
MUG SHOT
A. height indicator
B. flood lamps
C. title board
D. flash unit
E. letter sets

References

1. Sally S. Kalalang and Aelino P. Kalalang, Jr. Instructional Handbook on Police Photography
2. Rommel K. Manwong. Police Photography
3. Forensic Photography, Waynefred H. illarba Ph.D. Crim
4. Mamalian, C.A. & LaVigne, N.G . (1999). the Use of Computerized Crime Mapping by Law
Enforcement: Survey Results, the National Institute of Justice

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