Crime Scene Photography Flashcards
What is the first step in recording/examining a crime scene?
Photography
Why is crime scene photography important? (4)
Provide an accurate representation of the scene and physical evidence when you arrived.
Preserves the scene as is for future viewing
Provides and inventory of evidentiary items
What is the first photo a crime scene investigator should take?
Identifier card
Why should your identifier card be the first photo you take at a crime scene?
Typically, crime scenes involve more than one scene and therefore more than one person taking photos. Your identifier card as the first photo will immediately allow other investigators to tell who took the proceeding photos.
What are the second photos you take in a crime scene?
Scene establishing photos
Describe what type of images should be taken for scene establishment.
Street signs or pathways leading up to the scene
Building/apartment/unit number
Once inside take overall shots = one from each corner of a room to overlap the entire scene
What is the third type of photo you should take at a crime scene?
Evidence establishing
What are evidence establishing photos?
Items of interest that will be swabbed or collected for further analysis photographed in-situ with an identifier marker
What are the two types of photos to be taken for evidence establishing photos?
Overall and mid range
What is the fourth type of image to be taken in a crime scene investigation?
Close ups
How should you take a close up image?
Place item on surface with non-distracting background and lay flat with scale and identifier tag
Fill the frame
What are the 4 considerations of forensic photography?
Photograph as much as possible at eye level
Always use a flash
Check depth of field
Auto-focus mode requires contrast in order for it to function properly.
What camera settings should be used for general crime scene photography?
Zoom lens
50 mm
F8
ISO 400-800
What camera settings should be used for impression evidence?
Macro lens
105 mm
F16 or higher
ISO 100
