Crime Scene Photography Week 2

Tim Clouse

Photography

• Greek for “phos” or light • “graphia” or writing or drawing

• “writing with light” • “drawing with light”

• Creation of an image using light

Composition and Cardinal Rule

Primary Subject • Decision • Not necessarily single object • Larger area • Viewed

What is Composition

The intentional choosing of your subject, not

happenstance

Composition Goals

1. Shows the Primary subject (s) more effectively

2. Will be the viewpoint that excludes as many irrelevant items and areas surrounding the primary subject as possible.

Before taking your Photograph!

1. Compose the scene or primary subject

2. Determine the proper exposure 3. Focus the camera

The Three Cardinal Rules of Photography

1.Fill the Frame 2.Maximize depth of field 3.Keep the film plane

parallel

Fill the Frame

What is important to photograph?

Single Item or an Entire Crime Scene

Highlight the main aspect of what is important

Fill the Frame

Background

Is the image in the background important?

Clean up the background

Provide your own backdrop

Foreground

• Is the image in the foreground important?

• Clean up the foreground

• Move the Camera

Shadow Control (Sunlight)

• Avoid having your own shadow in the frame

• Avoid shadows of co-workers • If you cannot avoid the shadow—

REPOSITION • Try to completely cover the frame with

the shadow

Shadow Control (Flash)

• Pre-Visualize • Consider a –REPOSITION • If the flash is not on the Camera consider

where the shadow will fall • Hard Shadow • Soft Shadow

Lens Flare

• If at all possible DO NOT shoot into the Sun

• Try to have the sun behind you or to one side

• While shooting outdoors always use a Lens hood to help prevent lens flare!!!!!

Cardinal Rule #2: Maximize Depth of Field

Depth of Field is the variable range, from

foreground to background, of what

appears to be in focus.

Depth of Field

Crime Scene Photographers should try and ensure that all of the frame is in full focus of using the Maximum Depth of Field.

Arguments to Minimum or No Depth of Field

1. If a substantial amount of the image is out of focus is it a “Fair and Accurate Representation of the Scene”?

2. Defense Attorney’s may be able to argue exculpatory evidence

3. Defense Attorney could prove the photographer was incompetent

Focal Techniques

• Reciprocal Exposure—Use of Multiple shutter speeds and aperture setting to obtain the same exposure level.

• Hyperfocal Focus—When used with infinity. Maximizes the depth of field range for large outdoor crime scenes.

• Zone Focus—When infinity is not in the background. “Rule of thirds”

• Prefocus—Move the Camera until focus is correct

Cardinal Rule #3: Keep the Film Plane Parallel

• Keep the back of the camera Parallel to the subject

• Keep the length of the lens perpendicular to the subject

• Keep the Digital Sensor parallel to the subject

Flash on Reflective Material

• Some Exceptions to the rule • Shoot to the side to avoid “Hot Spots” in the

photo. • Shooting at a slight angle will relive the Hot

Spot and possibility your reflection.

Close-Up Photography

• Keep the film plane parallel to the object

• Shoot the photo as if you were directly over it to provide a “Fair and Accurate” depiction of the item.

Exposure Variables

1. Shutter Speeds2. Apertures 3. Film Speed/digital --ASA/ISO Equivalents 4. The ambient light of the scene or any

supplemental lighting that can be used (flash, bounce flash, flash light, over head light)

Shutter Speed Shutter speed is the speed at which the shutter

opens and closes. This allows light to hit the film plain.

1=1 sec. 60=1/60th of a sec. 2=1/2 sec. 125=1/125th of a sec.4=1/4 of a sec. 250=1/250th of a sec. 8=1/8th of a sec. 500=1/500th of a sec. 15=1/15th of a sec. 1000=1/1000th of a sec. 30= 1/30th of a sec. 2000=1/2000th of a sec.

4000=1/4000th of a sec.

B=As long as the button is push shutter is open

Shutter Speeds

F/StopsOften referred to as the aperture of the lens or

the diaphragm opening.

Exposure Stop • Exposures that change normally expressed as

a change that either halves or doubles the overall lighting from the original exposure.

• If we use a +1 stop exposure, we have doubled the total amount of light transformed onto the film plain

• If we use a -1 stop exposure we have cut in half the total amount of light transformed onto the film plain

Correct F-Stop is f/5.6

• A +1 exposure will be normally f/8 which will double the total amount of light

• A -1 exposure will normally be f/4 which will cut the light in half.

* An adjustment in the f/stop also effects the depth of field

Film Speed

• The lower the number the more quality of the picture taken and more light is required

• The higher the number of film speed the less quality and the less light required.

• Each speed is made up of different sizes and shapes of Silver halide Crystals. Low speeds have less Crystals, higher speed have more Crystals

DX Coding

System of coding film for Automatic cameras

1.The ISO film speed of the film within the canister.

2.The number of exposures on the roll of film 3.The exposure latitude of the film

Ensure a Great shot!!

• Take more than one shot of the object!!! • Bracket—To achieve maximum depth of field

change the f/stop to a higher number not a lower number or a -1 exposure

• If the largest number has already been used you can adjust your shutter speed to a faster speed

Filters

• Polarization filers will help with shooting an image through glass. • Eliminates glare • Eliminates polarized light

Summery • Three Cardinal Rules• Compose • Shutter Speed • f/stop • Bracket • More than one photo • Filters • Q&A

Next week—Week 3 • Read Chapter 4 of your text Crime Scene

Photography • Review key terms • Complete the discussion questions regarding the

basics of camera operation with various lenses. • Participate in Web Field Trip (Two different Trips) • Attend the weekly seminar • Respond to the discussion board • Take the quiz• Have a good week