Principles of Photography

MODULE 1
LESSON 2
 Principles of Photography

• 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 a subject must reach the sensitized
materials while all other lights must be excluded.
• The exclusion of all unwanted and unnecessary lights is achieved
by placing the sensitized material inside a camera.
 Principles of Photography

• The amount of light on the sensitized material after exposure is

not immediately visible to the eyes.
• To make the formed image 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.
 Principles of Photography

• Too little light will produce a transparent or white shade.

• The varying shade of gray will finally form the complete image.
• The effect of light on the sensitized material is not visible in the
formation of images of objects. The effects could be made visible
with the aid of chemical processing of the exposed sensitized
material called development.
Police Photography
Police Photography

• The science which deals with the study

of the principles of photography and the
preparation of photographic evidence
and its application to police work.
 Four Primary Ways of using
Photography in Police Work
• As a means of identification
• As a method of discovering, recording, and preserving evidence
• As a way to present, in the courtroom, an impression of the
pertinent elements of a crime.
• As a training and public relations medium for police programs.
 Objectives of Police Photography
• Produce a pictorial record of everything on the crime scene.
• It keeps police officer’s memory accurately as to where he find
things.
• It helps in securing confessions, disposition and information
relating to the case.
Forensic Photography

• is a science which deals with the

study of notion of photography, its
application to law enforcement work
and the preparation of photographs
for court presentation.
• The process of photographing crime
scene or any other objects for court
presentation.
 Importance of Forensic Photography
• It presents minute details of the crime scene.
• It is a permanent record of the crime scene.
• It aids the investigator to describe in court details of the crime
scene that he investigated several months ago.
• It assists the investigator to solve crime.
Macro Photography

• is the art or process of photographing

an object at greater than 1:1 ratio up
to nine times magnification.
• Photographing of objects directly
enlarged on the negative and
magnified from 1 to 9 times.
 Micro Photography

• is the art or process of photographing minute objects and

magnified by means of the microscope and enlarge from 10
times up.
Ultra Violet Photography

• is the art or process of

photographing unseen objects by
the naked eye with the use of ultra
violet rays and filters.
 Infrared Photography

• is the art or process of photographing or recording unseen objects

by the naked eye by means of infrared light.
X-ray Photography

• The process of photographing

or recording internal structure
of the body.
Aerial Photography

• A kind of photography applied for

photo mapping.
Underwater Photography

• Photographing things under water.

Flash Photography

• Applied to the technique

whereby exposures are made
with illumination from one or
more photograph.
Mug Shot Photography

• The process of taking photographs of

the suspect/s in full length, half body,
right and left side views, and two
quarter views.
• It is usually use for personal
identification which is the first use of
photography in police work.
 Evidence Photography

• Many valuable articles of evidence can be found at the crime scene.

Each object can be photographed individually and in relation to other
objects at the scene. Examples of evidence to be photographed are:
Tools, Weapons, Clothing, Contraband
 Purpose of Photographing Physical
Evidence
• A permanent record is made of the original appearance of the object.
• The photographs can be used in place of physical evidence to
supplement the case report.
• Each article is preserved from necessary handling which might cause
the evidence to deteriorate or otherwise become altered.
• A photograph should be taken at the scene of any piece of evidence
that might deteriorate, change over time, or any evidence that cannot
be moved from the scene or that might be damaged by handling.
 Basic Requirements of A Photograph
Admitted as Evidence In Court
• Accurate Representations
• Free of Distortion
• Material and Relevant
• Unbiased
 Items of Physical Evidence to be
Photographed
• Objects that serve to establish the fact that a crime has been
committed.
• Evidence relating to the manner in which the crime was committed.
• Objects that might provide a clue to the identity of the perpetrator.
• Clues that would connect a suspect to the crime.
• Anything that has any bearing on the crime such as blood splashes,
signs of struggle or any indication of drinking or drugs.
• Fingerprints found at the crime scene.
 Evidence Photography

• Shoe print or tire impression should be photographed before

the addition of a scale or label.
 Objectives of Taking Crime Scene
Photography
• To produce a pictorial record of everything regarding the crime.
• To help in seeking the police officers memory accurately as possible as
to where he find things.
• To help in securing, obtaining confession, description and information
to the case.
 Procedure of Taking Photographs at
the Crime Scene
• General View or Long Range View
• Medium View or Mid Range View
• Close-up Shot
• Extreme Close-up Shot
 Legal foundation of
photographic evidence
 A.M. No. 01-7-01-SC
Rules on Electronic Evidence
• “Ephemeral electronic communication" refers to telephone
conversations, text messages, chatroom sessions, streaming audio,
streaming video, and other electronic forms of communication the
evidence of which is not recorded or retained.
 A.M. No. 01-7-01-SC
Rules on Electronic Evidence
Rule 11: Audio, Photographic, Video, and
Ephemeral Evidence
• Section 1. Audio, video and similar evidence. – Audio, photographic
and video evidence of events, acts or transactions shall be admissible
provided it shall be shown, presented or displayed to the court and
shall be identified, explained or authenticated by the person who made
the recording or by some other person competent to testify on the
accuracy thereof.