SOUTHWAY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Criminology Department

NOTES IN FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY FOR ONLINE CLASS

Forensic Photography is one of the significant since it can be applied in all allied branches of it, such as:
dactyloscopy, questioned document examination, forensic ballistics, polygraphy, etc. In the absence of photography
is the failure of whatever branches of criminalistics and the criminal investigation itself.

Module 1- FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

Learning Objectives: At the end of this chapter, the student will be able to:

1. Define “Forensic Photography” and its role in forensic investigation

2. Understand the concepts of photography and its principles.

3. Explain the difference between picture and photograph

4. Understand the importance of light in photography.

5. Understands the importance of Historical Evolution in forensic photography

OVERVIEW OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography

1. Literal Definition:
-The word photography derive of two Greek words PHOS which means “light” and GRAPHIA meaning
“write”. Therefore photography best translates to “write with light”. (Herschel 1839).
-There are two versions on the root words or origin of the word photography. Photography is derived from
the Greek word “phos” or “photo” meaning the light and the word “grapho” which means to draw. Literally
therefore, photography is the drawing with light.
-The word “grapho” is found in two books “THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY”
edited and published by Eastman Kodak, Rochester New York USA 1979 and the other book “PHOTOGRAPHIC
EVIDENCE- its theory and practice” by Charles C. Scot West Publishing Co. St. Paul Minnesota, USA 1976.
- The word “graphia” appear in the book, “the practical methodology of forensic photography” by David
Red sicker, CRC Press Washington D.C USA 2001.
- Personally the word “grapho” meaning to draw is more appropriate than the word “graphia” which means
to write because photographic subject range from places, persons and things so it is more wide ranging in subject
matter while in graphia-webster dictionary describe to write is the combining of letter to form word.
2. Modern Definition:
- Photography is an art or science which deals with the reproduction of images through the action of light,
upon sensitized materials, with the aid of a camera and its accessories, and the chemical processes involved therein.
(Aquino 1972).
3. Technical/Legal Definition:
- Modern photography may be defined as any means for the chemical, thermal, electrical or electronic
recording of the images on sensitized materials, or objects formed by some type of radiant energy, including gamma
rays. This definition is broad enough to include not only the conventional methods of photography but almost any
new process that may be developed. (scott 1975).

Differences between Police Photography and Forensic Photography

Police Photography is an art or science which deals with the study of the principles of photography, the preparation
of photographic evidence, and its application to police work (Aquino 1972) while Forensic Photography is the art or
science of photographically documenting a crime scene and evidence for laboratory examination and analysis for
purpose of court trial. (redsicker 2001).

Black and White Photography

All photography was originally “monochrome”, or black and white. Even after the color film was
really available, black and white photography continued to dominate for decades, due to its lower cost and
its “classic” photographic look. The tones and contrast between light and dark shadows define black and
white photography. It Is important to not that some monochromatic pictures are not always pure black
and whites, but also contain other hues depending on the process. The cyanotype process produces an
image composed of blue tones. The albumen process, first used more than 150 years ago, produces brown
tones. Many photographers continue to produce some monochrome images, often because of the
established archival permanence of well processed silver halide based materials. Some full color digital
images are processed using a variety of techniques to create black and whites and some manufactures
produce digital cameras that exclusively shoot monochrome.

Color Photography
It is the photography that uses media capable of representing colors, which are traditionally
produced chemically during the photographic processing phase. By contrast, black and white
(monochrome) photography records only a single channel of luminance (brightness) and uses media
capable only of showing shades of gray. In color photography, light sensitive chemicals or electronic
sensors record color information at the time of exposure. This is usually done by analyzing the spectrum
of colors into three channels of information , one dominated by red, another by green and the third by
blue, in imitation of the way the normal human eye senses color. The recorded information is the used to
reproduce the original colors by mixing various proportions of red, green and blue light or (RGB color,
used by video displays, digital projectors and some historical photographic processes), or by using dyes or
pigments to remove various proportions of the red, green and blue which are presents in white light
(CMY color , used for prints on paper and transparencies on film).

Differences of Digital and Chemical Photography

An important difference between digital and chemical photography is that chemical photography resist
photo manipulation because it involves film and photographic paper, while digital imaging is a highly
manipulative medium. This difference allows for a degree of image post processing that is comparatively
difficult in film based photography and permits different communicative potentials and applications.
Difference between Picture and Photograph
Picture refers to all kinds of form images it can be as product of photography or not. On the other hand,
photograph is the only product of photography it’s either conventional or digital. A photograph it can be
a picture and also a picture it can be a photograph but not all picture is a photograph. Further , the sketch
or drawing is merely an example of picture however they are not a photograph by itself.
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

A. The basic components of Photography

1. LIGHT
- The days of creation. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth. Now the earth was
formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over
the waters. And God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. God saw the light was good, and He
separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. And
there was evening and there was a morning. The first day. (Genesis, chapter 1 verses 1-3)
2. EQUIPMENT
- The portable camera obscura (Latin for dark chamber) was used by artist or painters to get
accurate perspective of natural scene and scale of their subjects.
3. CHEMICALS
- Light sensitivity of silver nitrate and silver chloride solution was discovered and investigated. In
1800 Thomas Wedgewood and Humphey Davy produced photogram.

B. True Photography

 1839- is generally known as the birth of photography. William Henry Fox Talbot explained a process
he had invented (calotype) at the Royal Society of London. The calotype used paper with its surface
fibers impregnated with light sensitive compounds. Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre made a public
demonstration in Paris “Daguerreotype” in collaboration with Joseph Nicephore Niepce .
-The daguerreotype formed an image directly on the silver surface of a metal plate. With
talbots “calotype”, the fixation was only partial while Daguerre’s Daguerreotype, images were made
permanent with the use of hypo.
 1848- Abel Niepce de Saint - Victor introduce a process of negatives on glass using albumen (egg
white) as binding medium.
 1850- Louis Deserie Blanquart- Evard introduced a printing paper coated with albumen to achieve a
glossy surface.
 1851- Frederick Scott Archer- published a”wet plate” process when collodion - a viscous liquid that
dries to tough flexible and transparent film replaced albumen.
 1885- Gelatin emulsion printing paper was commercially introduced based films in 1889. During
this time the camera were crude; the lenses could not form a true image; and the sensitive materials
required long exposures and could not reproduce colors in shades of gray.
 1856- It was John F.W Herschel coined the word “photography.”
 1861- James Clark Maxwell researched colors.
 1890- full corrected lenses were introduced.
 1906- a plate was placed on the market that could reproduce all colors in equivalent shades of gray.
 1907- Lummiere color process was introduced, a panchromatic film was used but with blue, green
and red filter.
 1914- U.S Eastman Kodak made a color subtractive process called Kodachrome.
 1935- color process came out together with electronic flash.
 1947- Edwind H. Land introduced “Polaroid” the one-step photography.
 1960-LASER was invented making possible Holograms (three dimensional pictures)
 1988- The arrival of true digital cameras.
The first true digital camera that recorded images as a computerized file was likely the
Fuji DS-1P of 1988, which recorded to a 16MB internal memory card that used a battery to keep
the data in memory. This camera was never marketed in the USA. The fist commercially
available digital camera was the 1992 Kodak DCS-100. it used a 1.3 megapixel sensor and was
priced at $13,000. the first consumer camera with a liquid Crystal Display (LCD) on the back was
the casio QV-10 in 1995 and the first camera to use compact flash was the Kodak DC-25 in 1996.
In 1999 the NIKON D1 a 2.74 megapixel camera was the first digital SLR with the price of under
$6,000. This camera also used Nikon introduced the 300D camera also known as digital rebel, a 6
pixel and the first DSLR priced under $1000 to consumers.

C. CRIMINAL APPLICATIONS
“The history of forensic science and criminal investigation is both rich and existing. The
discoveries and observations of our predecessors are likewise surprising and comforting. The great men
and women who paved a path of enlightenment in crime investigation continue to teach us long after their
deaths. These are the aspirations that we should aspire to endow. We are fortunate to work in a profession
with a strong foundation and a bright and seemingly endless future.” (Thomas W. Adir, Editor “The
scene”.)

 1854- An englishman, Maddox, developed a dry plate photography eclipsing Daguerre’s wet plate on
tin method. This made practical the photography of inmates for prison records.
 1859- In the United States, one of the earliest applied Forensic Science was in photography. It was
used to demonstrate evidence in a California case. Enlarged photographs of signature were presented
in a court case involving forgery.
 1864- Odelberch first advocates the use of photography for the identification of criminals and the
documentation of evidence and the crime scenes. Early photographs of accused and arrested persons
were beautifully posed as example of the Victorian photographs at 20 to 30 years. Later, every major
police force in England and the United States has “Rogues’ galleries”- full face, profile and full body
shot.
 1982- Alphonse Bertillon who initiated anthropometric measurements for personal identification
was also involved in various means of documentations by photography which developed into a fine
science for criminalistics when he photographed crime scenes and formulated a technique of contact
photography to demonstrate erasures on documents.
 1902- Dr. R.A Reis, a German scientist trained in chemistry and Physics at Lausanne Univeristy in
Switzerland. He contributed heavily to the used of photography in forensic science and established
the world’s earliest crime laboratory that serviced the academic community and Swiss police. His
interest included photography of crime scenes , corpses , and blood stains. He made a trip to Brazil in
1913 where his experience in criminalistics was presented to the Western Hemisphere for the first
time.
 1910- Victor Baltazard developed a method of photographic comparison of bullets and cartridge
cases which act as an early foundation of the field of ballistics. Baltazard, professor of forensic
 medicine at Sorbone , used photographic enlargements of bullets and cartridge cases which act as an
early foundation of the field ballistics.

D. Legal Foundation of Forensic Evidence.

1. For Black and White Photographs

 1859-Daguerreotype was used in a civil case. Lueo vs. United States, 23 Howard 515 to decide on
the authenticity of photographs in comparing signature.
 1874- In a criminal case introducing photograph as identification evidence, Underzook vs
Commonwealth, 76 Pa. 340.
2. Color Photographs
 1943- Civil litigation Green vs City and county of Denver, 3 Colo. 390 142 P.2 D.227 involving
color photography of spoiled meat in violation of a health ordinance prohibiting the sale of putrid
meat to the public.
 1960- In criminal case, State vs. Conte 157 Comm. 251 A. 2 d81 showing the graphic wound of the
victim.

E. Criminology Education
 1902- Dr. R.A Reis professor at the University of Laussane Switzerland set up one of the first
academic curricular in forensic science. His forensic Photography Department grew into Laussane
Institute of Police Science.
 1950- August Vollmer, Chief of Police in Bekerly , California established the School of Criminology
at the University of California, Bekerly, Paul Kirk presided over the major of criminalistics within
the school.
 1954- In the Philippines, the school which pioneered criminology education is the Plaridel
Educational Institution now the Philippine College of Criminology at 641 Sales St. Sta Cruz, Manila.

The Principles of Photography

Different authors of photography books have different approach in explaining the principles of
photography but to our mind, the one expounded by Atty. Avelino Aquino in his book “Police
Photography-its principles and practice” is the best articulated.
“A photograph is the mechanical and chemical result of photography. To produce a photograph,
light is needed aside from sensitized materials. Lights reflected or radiated by subject must reach the
sensitized materials while all other lights must be excluded. The exclusion of all unwanted and
unnecessary light is achieved by placing the sensitized materials inside a camera. The amount of light on
the sensitized material after exposure is immediately visible to the eyes. To make the formed images
visible, it must undergo the development process.The visual effect that results from the chemical
processing is dependent on the quantity and quality of the exposing light. More light will yield an opaque
or black shade on the sensitized material after development, too little will produce a transparent or white
shade. The varying shade of gray will finally form the complete image.”

Learning Activities:
1. Make a video of yourself about the HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF FORENSIC
PHOTOGRAPHY (narrative discussion).
 2. Basic Practical Exercise #1 on: Cyanotype process and Albumen Process
 Cyanotype Process:
How to Make Cyanotype Prints of your Own Photos

- Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print.

Engineers used the process well into the 20th century as a simple and low-
cost process to produce copies of drawings, referred to as blueprints. The
process uses two chemicals: ferric ammonium citrate and potassium
ferricyanide. For the step by step process on how to make cyanotype prints,
Here is a simple tutorial about Cyanotype printing. Clink the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXNs3nIAo8Q
 Albumen Process:
How to make Albumen Printing on your own photos
- The albumen process, first used more than 150 years ago, produces brown
tones. For the step by steps process on how to make an albumen process,
here is a simple tutorial about albumen printing. Click the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIRF90Je8Vw

*Write your observations/conclusion as to the process of cyanotype and albumen and

submit it to my Gmail account ([email protected])

CHAPTER II: LIGHT

Light-
is an electromagnetic radiation within a certain porton of the electromagnetic spectrum. Light is
one of a number of known forms of radiant electromagnetic energy which travel in wave motion.
Actually, there are other theories that explains the behavior of light (ex. Quantum Theory) but for our
purpose, the wave theory is the only one considered. This form of energy travels at a speed of about
186,000 miles per second in air, but they differ in wavelength and frequency. Wavelength is the
distance from the crest (highest point) to the wave to the next succeeding crest while frequency is the
number of waves passing in a given point in one second. The product of the two is the speed of travel.
The different energies in the electromagnetic spectrum are the following: Cosmic rays, Gamma
rays, X-rays, Ultraviolet rays, visible light, infrared rays, heat rays, hertzian waves and the alternating
current oscillations.The energies that are capable of being recorded on sensitized materials are the -rays,
ultraviolet rays, visible light and infrared rays. They are sometimes referred to as the four photographic
rays of modern photography. The wavelength of X-rays is from 01 to 30 nanometers, Ultraviolet Rays
from 30-400nn, visible light from 400-700 nn, and Infrared rays from 700-1000+nn. Actually, the
wavelength of infrared rays extends beyond 2,000nn but the longest wavelength that the present
sensitized materials (films) could record is only up to this limit.
The webster dictionary defines light as a radiant electromagnetic energy that an be seen by the
naked eye. The scientific definition of light is the aspect of radiant energy of which a human observer is
aware through the visual sensations which arise from the stimulation of the retina of the eye.
 Light rays with a wavelength of 400-700 nn is referred to as visible light because it is only within
these wavelength that the human eye is capable of perceiving. Those with shorter or longer wavelength
are commonly referred to as visible radiations. What the eye cannot see are referred to as radiations.
Light energy has several effects on an object. It is either reflected, absorbed, transmitted or
converted. The varying combinations of this reflectance and absorption are what give us the wide variety
of colors which we are able to perceive, at times , other light are neither reflected nor absorbed but it is
transmitted through the object. This transmitted light passing through the object and allows a viewer on
the other side of the object to perceive these light waves.
The final effect a radiant may have on an object is to be converted to another wavelength. This
conversion is known as Luminescence. There are two types of luminescence: Fluorescence and
phosphoresce.
*Fluorescence- is the ability of an object to covert one wavelength to another as long as the active
energy source is irradiating the object.
*Phosphorescence- the object not only converts the wavelength while being irradiated but
continuous to reflect the new wavelength for a period of time after the energy source is removed.

Importance of Light in Photography

Based on the literal meaning of photography it was a derivative from two Greek words phos
means “light” and graphia means to “write” so in short light is very important in the field of photography
without this, exposure is impossible to happened. It is designed to capture or record the image of the
object into the emulsion of film or memory card of digital camera during picture taking and to project the
image from the negative copy to the emulsion of photographic paper as regard to printmaking process.

 EXPOSURE
- The quantity of light allowed acting on a photographic material; a product of the
intensity controlled by the lens opening and the duration controlled by the shutter
speed or enlarging time of light striking the film or paper. The act of allowing light to
reach the light sensitive emulsion of the photographic sensitized material. Also refers
to the amount duration and intensity of light which reaches the film. Exposure in
photography would happened twice around first during photo shoot with the aid of
light, film and camera and lastly during printmaking process with the aid of enlarger
machine or contact printer and photographic paper.

Kinds of Exposure

1. Under Exposure
-This will happen when the quantity of light reaching the emulsion of sensitized materials are
deficient with the needed quantity to make it normal. A negative copy could be considered under exposed
when it has a high contrast image. On the other hand, a photograph may be described as under exposed
when it has a loss of shadow detail, that is, when important dark areas are “muddy” or indistinguishable
from black, known as “blocked-up shadows” or sometimes “crushed shadows”, “crushed blacks”, or
“clipped blacks”, especially in video.
2. Normal Exposure
 - Otherwise known as correct exposure. This result of exposure occurs when the quantity of light
reaching the emulsion of sensitized materials is sufficient not over or under. A negative and positive
could be considered normal exposed when it has a normal contrast image.
3. Over Exposure
- This could be happen when the quantity of light reaching the emulsion of sensitized materials
exceeded with the prescribed amount of light which supposed to be necessary for better result. A negative
copy could be considered over exposed when it has a low contrast image. While a photograph may be
described as over exposed when it has a loss of highlight detail, that is, when important bright parts of an
image are “washed out” or effectively all white, known as “brown out highlights” or “clipped whites.”

Characteristics of Light
a.) Intensity- refers to the amount of light falling on a subject
b.) Color- this defines on the size of the wavelength in the visible spectrum.
c.) Quality- refers of the harshness or softness of light.
d.) Direction- given with difference to the camera- subject axis (an imaginary line draw from the camera
to the subject.)

White Light
When all the wavelength between 400-700 nn are presented to the eye in nearly equal quantity,
we get the sensation or perception of colorless or white light. If a narrow beam of white light is allowed to
pass through a prism it will bend the light of shorter wavelength more than those with longer wavelength
thus spreading them out into visible spectrum. These are colors of the rainbow - the red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, indigo, violet. The prism breaks its white light in its different wavelength producing the
colors of the rainbow.
If we divide the wavelength of visible light (400-700 nano.) equally into three (from 400-500
nano. , from 500-600 nano., and from 600-700 nano.) we will produce blue, green, and red colors. These
are known as the three primary colors of lights, paints, dyes, pegment and other coloring matters which
are the blue, yellow, and red.

Prism
- A prism is a transparent optical element with flat polished surfaces that refract light. At least
two of the flat surfaces must have an angle between them. The exact angles between the surfaces depend
on the application. The traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a triangular base
and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use “prism” usually refers to this type. Some types of optical
prism are not in fact in the shape of geometric prisms. Prisms can be made from any material that is
transparent to the wavelengths for which they are designed. Typical materials include glass, plastic and
fluorite. A dispersive prism can be used to break light up into its constituent spectral colors (the color of
rainbow). Furthermore, prism can be used to reflect light or to split light into components with different
polarization.

Additive Color Mixture

 -Additive colors is color created by mixing a number of different light colors, with shades of red,
green and blue being most common primary colors used in additive colors system. If we get three
projectors with beams of lights projecting individually blue, green, and red and have the three beams
overlap over the other, we will note that the portion where the blue and green light merged over the other,
it will produce a cyan color, the green and red lights a yellow color, and the red and blue lights a magenta
color. At the center where the blue, green and red lights were combined in proper ratio, we see white
light. In this aspect, cyan, yellow, and magenta are known as the three secondary colors. Black is the
absence of all colors or the absence of light.

Subtractive Color Mixture

-This time the light beams of the three projectors will be covered each with cyan filter, yellow
filter , and magenta filter and have the beams of light projected one over the other. The cyan filter will
transmit blue and green light but absorbs red from white light. A yellow filter will transmit green and red
light but absorbs blue from white light. Similarly, a magenta filter will transmit red and blue light but
absorbs green from white light. At the center where three beams of light are merged together will produce
black. In simple terms, cyan is the complementary of red, yellow is the complementary of blue, and
magenta is the complementary of green.

Production of Colors

There are number of different ways in which color is produced. One needs to know the variable
quantities of colors so it will be possible to evaluate color as quality.

1. Absorption
-The colors of most ordinary objects are due to the fact they do not absorb the same amount of
light at each wavelength.
2. Scattering
- The color of the blue sky is due to the scattering of light by the atmosphere. Variation in the
density of the atmospheric gasses act in such a way that they scatter light of the shorter wavelength at the
blue end of the spectrum much more they scatter light of the longer wavelength of the red end of the
spectrum. Thus the sky is bluest when it is clearest and white it is less clear.
*SPECTRUM
- it is the distribution of colors produced when white light is dispersed by a prism or
diffraction grating. There is a continuous change in wavelength from red, the longest wavelength,
to violet, the shortest. Seven colors are are usually distinguished: red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, indigo and violet, the whole range of electromagnetic radiation with respect to its
wavelength or frequency any particular distribution of electromagnetic radiation often showing
lines or bands characteristics of the substance emitting the radiation or absorbing it.
Kinds of Visible Spectrum
1. Red light- the visible red light has a wavelength of about 650 nn. At sunrise and
sunset, red or orange colors are present because the wavelengths associated with these colors are
less efficiently scattered by the atmosphere than the shorter wavelength colors (e.g., blue and
purple). A large amount of blue and violet light has been removed as a result of scattering and the
long waves colors, such as red and orange, are more readily seen.
 2. Orange Light- the visible yellow light has a wavelength of about 590 nn.
3. Yellow light - The visible yellow light has a wavelength of about 570 nn. Low
pressure sodium lamps, like those used in some parking lots, emit a yellow (wavelength 589 nn)
light.
4. Green light- The visible green light has a wavelength of about 510 nn. Grass, for
example, appears green because all of the colors in the visible part of the spectrum are absorbed
into the leaves of the grass except green. Green is reflected, therefore appears green.
5. Blue light- the visible blue light has a wavelength of about 475 nn. Because the blue
wavelength is shorter in the visible spectrum, they are scattered more efficiently by the molecules
in the atmosphere. This causes the sky o appear blue.
6. Indigo Light- The visible indigo light has a wavelength of about 445 nn.
7. Violet light- The visible violet light has a wavelength of about 400 nn. Within the
visible wavelength spectrum, violet and blue wavelengths are scattered more efficiently than
other wavelength . the sky looks blue, not violet because our eyes are more sensitive to blue light
(the sun also emits more energy as blue light than as violet.)
3. Interference
- Color can also produced by interference of light waves in thin film like a in soap bubbles or a
film of oil floating in water. The light reflected from the top surface of such film undergoes a reversal or
phase but the reflected from the bottom surface does not undergo this type of change. This phenomenon is
also responsible for the color pattern known as “Newton’s ring” which sometimes causes trouble in color
printing work.
4. Fluorescence
- This happens when molecules of the fluorescent material absorb energy at one wavelength and
radiate it at another wavelength.
5. Dispersion
- Color may arise from the differences in the refractive or bending power of a transparent medium
of light of different wavelength. The rainbow is a good example of this phenomenon.

Classification of Light
1. NATURAL LIGHT
- our main source of natural light is the sun. The sun is a star that is huge ball of gas. Explosions
at the center of the sun produce large amounts of energy. This energy is released as light and heat. Some
of this light reaches earth and gives us daylight. The light that comes from the sun is know as white
light.Other forms of natural light include the moon and the stars. The stars provide only small amounts of
light at night as they are billions of kilometers away from earth. A full moon, however, can provide quite
a lot of light. The light from the moon is just light reflected from the sun. Some animals can produce their
own light. This is known as bioluminescence. A chemical reaction is produced in special light producing
cells. This light is then used in a variety of ways but mainly to attract other creatures. Glow worms,
fireflies, some fish and mushrooms are examples of living things that create their own light.
 SUNLIGHT
- is the light energy that comes from the sun. When this energy reaches the earth’s surface, it
is called insolation. What we experience as sunlight is actually solar radiation. It is the radiation and
heat from the sun in the form of electromagnetic waves. The atmosphere affects the amount of solar
radiation received. When solar radiation travels through the atmosphere , some of it is absorbed by
 the atmosphere (16%). Some of it is scattered to space (6%). Some of it is reflected by clouds (28%),
about 47% of it reaches the earth’s surface.

Kinds of Sunlight
1.1.Bright Sunlight- It is a sun lighting condition where objects in an open space cast a deep and
uniform or distinct shadow.
1.2. Hazy Sunlight- In this sun lighting condition the objects in open space cast a transparent
shadow.
1.3. Dull Sunlight- Objects in open space cast no shadow.
a.) Cloudy Bright
-objects in open space cast no shadow but objects at far distance are clearly
visible.
b.) Cloudy Dull
-objects in open space cast no shadow and visibly at distant objects are already
limited.

2. ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
- -humans have been able to create and control light for thousands of years. The earliest form of
lighting was with fire such as burning wood, candles, gas or oil. Candles were made out of beeswax or
tallow (animal fat). oil lamps used plant or animal oil and a wick to burn. Now the most convenient
source of artificial light is electric light.

 Photoflood lamp - is also known as reflectorized light or spot light. This type of lamp needs a
reflector to focus the light on the subjects. The life span is seven to eight hours with wattages of
500 watts.
 Flash bulbs- are chemical lamps as they generate lights by the rapid combustion of metal in
oxygen.
 Electronic Flash- produces light by instantaneous electrical discharges between two electrodes in
a gas filled glass bulb.
 Florescent lamps- are tube lamps wherein the walls are coat by materials capable of florescence
both ends have a terminal and commonly mounted into a holder that serves as the reflector.
 Infra-red lamp- is a special type of artificial light that is capable of producing infra-red radiation.
This type of bulb is useful photographing the objects or subjects at dark places.
 Ultra-violet lamp- a gas lamp burning disulfide vapor in oxygen or in nitric oxide which is
common to back light.

Light sources in this category are man-made and are divided into the continuous radiation and the short
duration.
a.) Continuous radiation
- are those that can give illumination continuously. The common light sources of this
kind are the fluorescent lamp, incandescent lamps, carbon arc lamp, photoflood lamp, gas lamp, etc.
b.) Short duration (flash unit)
 - a flash unit gives a brief flash light produced by a burning metallic wire (flash bulb) or
an electrical discharge through a gas-filled tube (electronic flash). At this time, the flash bulb is no longer
available in the market but the electronic flash remains very popular. The electronic flash a great light
output in a compact, lightweight and economical form. It does not have the effect of heat and glare during
set-up that is common with continuous light sources. Because it is battery powered, it is most convenient
for field work where AC current is not available. Like any other artificial source, flash unit allows the
photographer to control the direction, quality and intensity of light to achieve the desired result.
Types of Electric Light
2.1 Tungsten Filament Bulbs
- They are cheap to make and easy to use. They contain a thin metal filament made out of
tungsten (a type of metal). This filament becomes very hot when electricity flows through it and glows
yellow-white. These bulbs last only about 1000 hours because the filament becomes thinner and thinner
as it burns.
2.2 Neon Lights
- It is commonly used for advertising. Neon is a gas that gives out light when high-
voltage electricity passed through it. By changing the electric current, up to five different colors can be
produced in the same tube.
2.3 Fluorescent Tubes
- They are widely used in the office and in home. Fluorescent tubes are glass tubes that
contain mercury vapor. When an electric current is passed through the mercury vapor it gives off
ultraviolet light. This ultraviolet light is absorbed by phosphor powder that coats the inside of the tube
and starts to glow to make a blue-white light. These lights need special electronic starter to produce the
high voltage needed to start the light.

Bending of Light
When travelling in open space, light travels in straight line. However, when light comes in contact with
an open object, it may be blended in the following manner:

1. Reflection- is the deflection or bouncing back of light when it hits a surface.

a. Regular or Specular Reflection
- happens when light hits a flat, smooth and shiny surface.
b. Irregular or Diffused Reflection
- occurs when light hits a rough or uneven but glossy object.
2. Refraction-the bending of light when passing from one medium to another.
3. Diffraction- the bending of light when it hits a sharp edge of an opaque object.
4. Transmission- Light can be transmitted or passed through transparent and translucent substances.

Kinds of Objects as to how they behave to light

1. Transparent Object
- allows sufficient visible light to pass through them that the object on the other side may be
clearly seen.
2. Translucent Objects
- allows light to pass, however diffuse it sufficiently that the object on the other side may be
clearly distinguished.
3. Opaque
- so greatly diffuse the light that recognizing the object on the other side is very difficult if not
possible.

Forensic Light Sources

1. Ultraviolet Lamp
- used in forensic work come in forensic work come in variety of shape, sizes and power. Some
units are portable battery operated and easily carried and can meet the rugged and rigorous demand for
field work.
- The ultraviolet radiation is broken down into the long wave U.V., the medium wave U.V. and
the short wave U.V. the long wave UV is used in wide variety of application in medical and forensics.
The medium wave UV is often used in chemical analysis and in curing and hardening of different items
for industrial applications. The short wave UV is used for variety purpose such as to sterilize air and place
of work. It is an effective germicide, destroying many biological contaminants.
2. LASER- Light Amplification and Stimulation in the Emission of Radiation
- Although developed years earlier it was in 1970’s that it was discovered that by illuminating
certain items with LASER, they would fluoresce or could be made to stand out in sharp contrast from
their background. This was especially significant in locating dried biological stains such as semen, urine
and saliva, as well as stains that had been washed. The LASER stimulation of these items provided a way
for criminalist to finally see, locate and visually record evidence that they know that they had been
missing. The only drawback of LASER is their cost, they are quite expensive. LAZER is also known as
coherent light.
3. Alternative Light Source (ALS)
- ALS was developed in mind 1980’s as a far more inexpensive alternative to forensic LASER.
The ALS uses a variety of band pass filters to provide high intensity beam of non-coherent light. These
multiple band pass filters allows the operator to match the LASER frequency available at crime scene.
Additional wavelengths were included to allow the ALS to operate in the UV, near UV, and IR spectrum.
ALS technology had advanced to appoint whereby using the combination to filter and an adjustable iris
control the width of the transmission band, various wavelength from the UV to IR may be digitally
selected. This allows the operator to scan an almost endless variety of wavelength instead of being
restricted to the specific band pass filter capabilities.
4. Forensic Light Sources (FLS)
- is a term being applied to a wide variety of relatively inexpensive light sources which use
filtered white light. A band pass filters allows a fairly narrow band of light to pass through. The object is
then radiated with what is normally about 400-500 nanometer light source. The strobe shift of a specially
developed luminescent fingerprint powder which also falls within the strobe shift of most biological
powder. This will enable a criminalist to search latent fingerprints of rough surfaces. The white light
source used with the FLS is a simple as a maglight type handled flashlight or a spot with the filter in
place.

Learning Activities:
1. Basic Practical Exercise #2: Mixing Bowl
 Instructions: Drop many pieces of scrap paper into a mixing bowl. Each piece should have a
single word .Draw a piece of paper, grab your camera/ phone, and start shooting, what can be on the
scraps of paper :
 Photographic rays
 LASER
 Light
 Crime Scene
 Photography
 Refraction
 Diffraction
 Forensic1
 Artificial Light
 Natural Light

Note: Your complete name, section and the name of your instructor should be included in a
pieces of scarp paper as a proof on your Basic Practical Exercise and submit your work on our
private group chat (FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY) and to my Gmail account
([email protected]) .

2. Basic Practical Exercise #3: Nine Elements

Instructions: Photograph these nine elements of a scene while in one location.
Go to a street corner, park, or other location and make photographs showing the
following:
 Light
 Shadow
 Reflection
 Diffraction
 Translucent object Color
 Transparent object
 Refraction
 Opaque
 Transmission
 Bright Sunlight
 Hazy Sunlight
 Dull sunlight
Bonus round? Also add:
 Focus
 Tonality
 Quality of light
 Pattern
 Negative space

Note: Your subject should be any members of your family. Submit your works (photographs) on
our private group chat (Forensic Photography).
3. Make a video of yourself maximum of 5 minutes about Chapter II- Light (narrative
discussion).