Introduction to Incident

Scene Photography
New Mexico State Police
Criminal Investigations Section
Crime Scene Team

Learning Objectives

Identify the requirements for a

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

Learning Objectives

Identify the elements of technical

photography
Demonstrate how to properly
photograph footwear impressions
Demonstrate how to properly
photograph tire impressions
Demonstrate how to properly
photograph latent prints

Introduction to Incident
Scene Photography

Introduction

For police officers, photography has

become the primary way of
documenting crime & traffic
collision scenes.
Photography is a combination of art
& science.

Why Take Photographs At A

Crime Scene?

Photographs document the scene in a

way people can understand.
Photographs can be used to recreate the
crime and to prove or disprove a
suspects explanation.
They can help a jury understand where
and how the crime was committed.
A picture is worth a thousand words.

To Be Admissible in
Court
Fair
Not

biased or prejudicial
Must not appeal to the emotions of
the jury

Accurate
Technically

correct
Form, Tone, Color and Scale

To Be Admissible in
Court

Relevant
Of

value to the court and jury in

making decisions
Chain of Custody must be maintained
The photo must be identified
Introduced in court by a person who is
qualified to identify it

NM DPS Digital Imaging

Policy

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.

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

The CD should be labeled with a permanent (Sharpie) marker:

Case #

Item #

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

Label as
Original
Case#
Item#
Case Agent
Description
Date taken
Date to
disc
Photograph
er

Elements of a Good,
Technical Photograph

Must be correctly exposed

Have maximum depth of field
Have an accurate perspective
Be in sharp focus

Impression Evidence

Orientation (overview and midrange shots)

Show where the impression is located in the

crime scene.

Close-up
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

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

Photograph tire impressions in

sections showing one circumference
of the tire.
Taking overlapping photographs,
with a tape measure, parallel to the
tire impression.

Tire
Impressions

Photography of Very
Important Vehicles

Exterior Photos
Use the 21 point method
Sometimes it is not possible to get all 21 photos
Do your best
If you have multiple vehicles involved in a crash

Take the standard over-view photos of the ENTIRE

scene first
Then, take 21 photos of each vehicle individually
Then, take mid-range and close-up photos of the
evidence

21 Point
Method
Edg
Front
Edg
e

e
Diagonal

Diagonal

Front Edge

Front Edge

Front Axle

Front Axle

Side

Side

Rear Axle

Rear Axle

Rear Edge

Rear Edge

Diagonal

Edg
e

Rea
r

Edg
e

Diagonal

These 20 Photos + 1 Photo Directly Down =

21 Photos

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

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

Should be photographed before lifting

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

Fingerprints

Tool marks & serial

numbers

Orientation photo

Evidence at the scene

Close-up photos
Use a scale on the same plane as the
evidence
90 degree photo
Oblique light to create small shadows in
the detail
Use a tripod.

Serial Number

Toolmarks

Impression Evidence

Orientation
Show where the impression is located in
the overall crime scene.
Lighting
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
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

Photograph tire impressions in

sections showing one circumference
of the tire.
Taking overlapping photographs,
with a tape measure, parallel to the
tire impression.
Keep the film plane 90 to the
impression

Tire
Impressions

Photography of
Bloodstains

Use color film

Take orientation photos to show location
Take close-up photos to show detail
Keep the film plane 90 to the print

L-shape ruler is preferred to get both width

and length of stain

Consider using a tripod

Photography of
Bloodstains

Use bounced lighting or diffused light.

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

Overview, midrange,
close up

Photos of bloodstains

Bloodstains @ 90 To the Floor

Bloodstains @ 90 to Wall

Low Light Photography

Issues

We often need to photograph scenes in low light,

the following is an overview.

The CSI Effect means that Juries no longer rely on

just your word. They want to see what you saw.

Your ability to shoot in low light will depend on

Ambient light
Your photography equipment
Lighting Equipment that you can supply

DWI equipment, etc.

Other resources available to you

Fire Department lighting equipment, etc.

One Flash

Flash + Existing Light

Flash & flashlight uses

Bounce flash

Fill flash

Painting with light

Flashlight

To fill the shadow/shaded area

Multiple flash

Light is bounced off white, reflective surface

Painting with light

Direct

One or more light sources at 45 degree

angles

Flash Photography

Direct reflective

Oblique lighting

Light source at low angle, usually to show detail by

creating shadows in the subject surface

Diffused lighting

Light is reflected directly off the subject into lens, and

causes very high contrast

An translucent material is placed between the light

source and subject

Transmitted lighting

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

Put your camera on a

tripod or sturdy surface

Put you camera on a

manual type setting (M)

turn your car off if that is

what you are using

Set the aperture (A) as low

as it will go
Set the shutter speed (S,
Tv) as slow as it will go

Turn on the timer

function, turn off the
flash

The flash will automatically

make the shutter speed too
fast for this.

The basics of low light

photos

Light up the scene with a

flashlight, and focus the camera.

Press the button to take the

photo, and when the shutter
opens (you hear the click)

Shine as many lights into the

scene from as many different
angles as you can until the
shutter closes (it clicks again)

Dont shine the light toward your

camera.

Off shoe flashes are best,

incandescent bulb flashlights are
OK, LEDs are not so good (beam
of light is too focused)

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 t
and experience to do them correctly

The End