Introduction to Incident Scene
Photography
New Mexico State Police
Criminal Investigations Section
Crime Scene Team

Learning Objectives
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Identify the requirements for a photo to be admissible in a court of law
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Identify the elements of a good, technical photograph

Learning Objectives
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Identify the elements of technical photography
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Demonstrate how to properly photograph footwear impressions
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Demonstrate how to properly photograph tire impressions
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Demonstrate how to properly photograph latent prints

Introduction to Incident Scene
Photography

Introduction
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For police officers, photography has become the primary way of documenting crime & traffic collision scenes.
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Photography is a combination of art & science.

Why Take Photographs At A Crime
Scene?
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Photographs document the scene in a way people can understand.
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Photographs can be used to recreate the crime and to prove or disprove a suspect’s explanation.
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They can help a jury understand where and how the crime was committed.
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A picture is worth a thousand words.

To Be Admissible in Court
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Fair
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Not biased or prejudicial
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Must not appeal to the emotions of the jury
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Accurate
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Technically correct
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Form, Tone, Color and Scale

To Be Admissible in Court
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Relevant
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Of value to the court and jury in making decisions
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Chain of Custody must be maintained
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The photo must be identified
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Introduced in court by a person who is qualified to identify it

NM DPS Digital Imaging Policy
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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.
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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
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The CD should be labeled with a permanent (Sharpie) marker:
 Case #
 Item #
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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
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Label as
Original
Case#
Item#
Case Agent
Description
Date taken
Date to disc
Photographer

Elements of a Good, Technical
Photograph
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Must be correctly exposed
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Have maximum depth of field
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Have an accurate perspective
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Be in sharp focus

Impression Evidence
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Orientation (overview and midrange shots)
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Show where the impression is located in the crime scene.
Close-up
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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
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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
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Photograph tire impressions in sections showing one circumference of the tire.
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Taking overlapping photographs, with a tape measure, parallel to the tire impression.

Tire Impressions

Photography of Very Important
Vehicles
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Exterior Photos
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Use the “21 point” method
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Sometimes it is not possible to get all 21 photos
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Do your best
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If you have multiple vehicles involved in a crash
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Take the standard over-view photos of the ENTIRE scene first
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Then, take 21 photos of each vehicle individually
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Then, take mid-range and close-up photos of the evidence

21 Point Method
Diagonal
Front Edge
Front Axle
Side
Edge Front Edge
Diagonal
Front Edge
Front Axle
Side
Rear Axle
Rear Edge
Diagonal Edge Rear Edge Diagonal
These 20 Photos + 1 Photo Directly Down = 21 Photos
Rear Axle
Rear Edge

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
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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
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Should be photographed before lifting
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Orientation shot to show location
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Consider using black & white film for greater contrast
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Macro or close-up lens
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Scale on the same plane must be used
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90 degree shot
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Use a tripod

Fingerprints

Tool marks & serial numbers
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Orientation photo
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Evidence at the scene
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Close-up photos
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Use a scale on the same plane as the evidence
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90 degree photo
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Oblique light to create small shadows in the detail
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Use a tripod.

Serial Number

Toolmarks

Impression Evidence
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Orientation
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Show where the impression is located in the overall crime scene.
Lighting
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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
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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
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Photograph tire impressions in sections showing one circumference of the tire.
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Taking overlapping photographs, with a tape measure, parallel to the tire impression.
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Keep the film plane 90° to the impression

Tire Impressions

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

Photography of Bloodstains
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Use bounced lighting or diffused light.
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Oblique lighting works best when dealing with stains on fabric (very low angles).
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May need additional magnification
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A macro lens or the macro feature on the camera
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A step-up lens

Overview, midrange, close up

Photos of bloodstains

Bloodstains @ 90° To the Floor

Bloodstains @ 90° to Wall

Low Light Photography Issues
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We often need to photograph scenes in low light, the following is an overview.
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The CSI Effect means that Juries no longer rely on just your word. They want to see what you saw.
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Your ability to shoot in low light will depend on
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Ambient light
Your photography equipment
Lighting Equipment that you can supply
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DWI equipment, etc.
Other resources available to you
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Fire Department lighting equipment, etc.

One Flash

Flash + Existing Light

Flash & flashlight uses
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Bounce flash
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Light is bounced off white, reflective surface
Fill flash
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To fill the shadow/shaded area
Multiple flash
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Painting with light
Flashlight
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Painting with light
Direct
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One or more light sources at 45 degree angles

Flash Photography
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Direct reflective
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Light is reflected directly off the subject into lens, and causes very high contrast
Oblique lighting
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Light source at low angle, usually to show detail by creating shadows in the subject surface
Diffused lighting
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An translucent material is placed between the light source and subject
Transmitted lighting
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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
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Put your camera on a tripod or sturdy surface
 turn your car off if that is what you are using
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Put you camera on a manual type setting (M)
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Set the aperture (A) as low as it will go
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Set the shutter speed (S, Tv) as slow as it will go
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Turn on the timer function, turn off the flash
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The flash will automatically make the shutter speed too fast for this.

The basics of low light photos
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Light up the scene with a flashlight, and focus the camera.
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Press the button to take the photo, and when the shutter opens (you hear the click)
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Shine as many lights into the scene from as many different angles as you can until the shutter closes (it clicks again)
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Don’t shine the light toward your camera.
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Off shoe flashes are best, incandescent bulb flashlights are OK, LEDs are not so good (beam of light is too focused)
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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