FSA116 Foundations of Forensic Photography - Study Guide

LAW ENFORCEMENT & SECURITY
Foundations of
Forensic Photography
STUDY GUIDE
LS FSA116 TR
04/16
FOUNDATIONS OF
FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
STUDY GUIDE
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)

Law Enforcement & Security Training
Foundations of Forensic Photography
Copyright Information
Foundations of Forensic Photography
2016 Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
All Rights Reserved. First Edition: April 2016
Printed in the United States of America
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written approval of the
copyright owner (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service [TEEX]).
The safety statements, procedures, and guidelines contained in this manual are current as of the
publication date. Prior to using the safety statements, procedures, and guidelines contained in
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STUDY GUIDE
TEEX Law Enforcement & Security Training
Forensic Science Academy

In partnership with Texas A&M University, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
(TEEX) introduces the Forensic Science Academy, offering one of the most
comprehensive forensic science certificate programs in the nation. Participants can
complete courses at their own pace, gaining a solid, broad-based education in forensic
science and crime scene investigation. All courses emphasize realistic, hands-on
training.
Forensic Technician Certificate (80 hours)

Forensic Investigator I (200 hours)
Basic Criminal Investigation

Crime Scene Investigation
Latent Print Processing
Courtroom Testimony
Forensic Photography I
Forensic Investigator II (200 hours)
Processing Evidence of Violent Crime

Skeletal Death Investigation
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
Death Investigation
Forensic Photography II
TEEX Law Enforcement & Security Training

200 Technology Way
College Station, TX 77845-3424
Phone: 979.845.6677
e-mail: law@teex.tamu.edu
Table of Contents
Module 0: Introduction .........................................................................................0-1
About this Course ............................................................................................................................... 0-2
Course Goal ................................................................................................................................. 0-2
Target Audience ........................................................................................................................... 0-2
Delivery Methods ......................................................................................................................... 0-2
Course Prerequisites.................................................................................................................... 0-2
Course Length.............................................................................................................................. 0-2
Registration/Attendance............................................................................................................... 0-2
Course Schedule.......................................................................................................................... 0-2
Participant Evaluation Strategy .................................................................................................... 0-2
Module 1: History of Forensic Photography ......................................................1-1

History of Forensic Photography Timeline.......................................................................................... 1-2
350 BC: Camera Obscura............................................................................................................ 1-2
1827: Heliographs ........................................................................................................................ 1-2
1839: Daguerreotyes.................................................................................................................... 1-2
1839: Calotypes ........................................................................................................................... 1-3
1852: The Principle of Fluorescence............................................................................................ 1-3
1859: Photographs Admissible in Court....................................................................................... 1-3
1861: First Color Photograph ....................................................................................................... 1-4
1867: Crime Scene Photographs ................................................................................................. 1-4
1875: Traffic Accident Photograph in Court ................................................................................. 1-4
1888: First Roll Film Camera ....................................................................................................... 1-4
1890: Bertillon System of Criminal Identification.......................................................................... 1-4
1894: The 35 mm Motion Picture Film ......................................................................................... 1-5
1925: The 35 mm in Still Photography ......................................................................................... 1-5
1943: Color Photographs in Court................................................................................................ 1-5
1947: First Instant Camera........................................................................................................... 1-5
1975: First Digital Camera ........................................................................................................... 1-6
2000s: Digital Cameras for Consumers ....................................................................................... 1-6
References ......................................................................................................................................... 1-7
Module 2: Camera Types and Parts ....................................................................2-1

Point-and-Shoot vs. Single Lens Reflex ............................................................................................. 2-2
Digital Point-and-Shoot ................................................................................................................ 2-2
Digital Single Lens Reflex ............................................................................................................ 2-3
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 2-3
Camera Parts and Functions.............................................................................................................. 2-3
2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.
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Canon EOS Rebel T3i.................................................................................................................. 2-3
Nikon D3000 .............................................................................................................................. 2-15
The Dial...................................................................................................................................... 2-27
Accessories ...................................................................................................................................... 2-30
Tripods and Stabilization Methods ............................................................................................. 2-30
Lenses and Focal Length........................................................................................................... 2-31
Flashes, Camera Sync Cords, and Diffusers ............................................................................. 2-32
Filter ........................................................................................................................................... 2-33
Shutter Release Methods........................................................................................................... 2-34
Rules of Thumb ................................................................................................................................ 2-35
References ....................................................................................................................................... 2-37
Module 3: General Terms and Concepts ............................................................3-1

Light.................................................................................................................................................... 3-2
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 3-2
Metering ....................................................................................................................................... 3-2
Ambient vs. Additive Light............................................................................................................ 3-2
Exposure Triangle .............................................................................................................................. 3-3
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 3-4
Aperture ....................................................................................................................................... 3-6
Shutter Speed .............................................................................................................................. 3-9
ISO ............................................................................................................................................. 3-13
Exposure Triangle Summary...................................................................................................... 3-15
Depth of Field ................................................................................................................................... 3-17
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3-17
Examples ................................................................................................................................... 3-18
Deep and Shallow Depth of Field............................................................................................... 3-19
Depth of Field Use in Forensic Photography ............................................................................. 3-19
Focus................................................................................................................................................ 3-20
Autofocus or Manual Focus ....................................................................................................... 3-20
Autofocus or Manual Focus of Lens........................................................................................... 3-20
Automatic or Manual Focal Points ............................................................................................. 3-20
Examples ................................................................................................................................... 3-21
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 3-22
Rules of Thumb ................................................................................................................................ 3-22
References ....................................................................................................................................... 3-24
Module 4: Photographic Documentation ............................................................4-1

Composition........................................................................................................................................ 4-2
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 4-2
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Perspective .................................................................................................................................. 4-2
Orientation and Framing .............................................................................................................. 4-4
Progression Photographs ................................................................................................................... 4-7
Examples ..................................................................................................................................... 4-7
Overall Photographs .................................................................................................................... 4-8
Midrange Photographs................................................................................................................. 4-9
Close-Up Photographs............................................................................................................... 4-10
Rules of Thumb ................................................................................................................................ 4-11
References ....................................................................................................................................... 4-12
Module 5: Additional Considerations .................................................................5-1

Crime Scene Documentation.............................................................................................................. 5-2
Purpose of Crime Scene Documentation..................................................................................... 5-2
Legal Implications ........................................................................................................................ 5-2
Quality and Case Preparation ...................................................................................................... 5-3
Common Errors and How to Improve........................................................................................... 5-4
Media Cards and Storage Issues ....................................................................................................... 5-4
Media Cards................................................................................................................................. 5-4
Storage Considerations................................................................................................................ 5-5
Image Processing............................................................................................................................... 5-5
Rules of Thumb .................................................................................................................................. 5-6
References ......................................................................................................................................... 5-7
Appendix A: Command Mode and Icons Handout ............................................ A-1

Appendix B: Exposure Triangle Handout........................................................... B-1
Module
Introduction
Terminal Objective
Upon successful completion of this module, participants will be able to participate in the course.
Enabling Objectives
1. Review information about the course
2. Review course navigation features
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Introduction
About this Course
About this Course

Course Goal
Upon the successful completion of this course, participants will be able

to demonstrate the ability to photograph crime scenes.
Target
Audience
Anyone who processes and photographs crime scenes or will in the

future.
Delivery
Methods
Course delivery consists of eLearning.
Course
Prerequisites
None
Course Length
16 hours
Registration/
Attendance
To receive a certificate of completion for this course, participants must:
complete a registration form at the beginning of the course;
complete the end of course evaluation; and
successfully complete FSA116.
Course
Schedule
Upon beginning the course, participants will have 45 days to complete

all modules and the final exam.
Participant
Evaluation
Strategy
To receive course credit and a certificate of completion, participants

must review all course content and complete the final exam with a 70%
or better.
Module
History of Forensic Photography

Terminal Objective
Upon the successful completion of this module, participants will be able to describe major events
in the history of photography in general and their forensic application in particular.
Enabling Objectives
1. Describe major events in the history of photography
2. Describe major events in the history of forensic application of photography
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History of Forensic Photography Timeline

In this module you will learn about the history of foundations of
forensic photography (from Greek, meaning ____________________
_________), including developments in photography in general and in
the forensic application of photography.
350 BC: Camera Obscura

The predecessor of the camera, the principle of the camera obscura
(from Latin, meaning darkened room), is first attributed to Aristotle of
Ancient Greece who lived from 384 to 322 BC.
Here is how it works. You are in a very dark room on a bright day,
make a small hole in a window cover, and look at the opposite wall,
what do you see? In full color and movement you will see the world
outside the window, upside down.
This is explained by a law in physics: Light travels in a straight line.
When some of the rays, reflected from a bright subject, pass through a
small hole in thin material, they do not scatter but cross and reform as
an ______________________ image on a flat surface held parallel to
the hole. In the Renaissance, artists used this as a drawing aid, tracing
the image reflected onto a sheet of paper.
What still needed to be discovered was a way to fix the camera obscura
image permanently.
1827: Heliographs
Joseph Nicphore Nipce, a French inventor, captured the first
permanent photographic image by using Bitumen of Judea (a naturally
occurring asphalt) coated onto a piece of glass or metal. The Bitumen
then hardened in proportion to the amount of light that hit it.
He called his images ____________________ (from Greek, meaning
sun drawings).
Nipces first, fuzzy image is of a pigeon house and a barn roof taken in
the summer of 1827 that he took with a camera obscura. Nipce
employed an exposure time of more than eight hours.
Photography, if not yet practical, had been invented.
1839: Daguerreotyes
Louis Jaques Daguerre, a French artist and photographer, introduced
his process, the ____________________, after experimenting with
photography for years, alone and with Nipce.

He used a mirror-like silver-surfaced plate that had been fumed with

iodine vapor which reacted with the silver to form a coating of silver
iodide. Just as the Bitumen process, after long exposure times, the
result appeared as a positive when it was suitably lit and viewed. Short
exposure times would create a non visible latent image that could be
made visible with mercury vapors.
1839: Calotypes
In Britain, William Henry Fox Talbot also experimented with making
images on paper. He announced his method three weeks after Daguerre,
and it is reported that he was disappointed to not have been faster.
He discovered that an exposure of mere seconds on paper sensitized
with ____________________ left a latent image that could be brought
out with the application of gallic acid. He patented this method in
February 1841 as the ____________________ (from Greek, meaning
beautiful). By placing the paper negative in contact with another sheet
of sensitized paper, he could produce a positive by the method now
known as contact printing. Though his method had the advantage of
being able to create as many positives as wanted, it lacked the clarity of
the daguerreotype photograph.
1852: The Principle of Fluorescence

In 1852, Sir George Gabriel Stokes published a paper describing the
process of fluorescence, the emission of light by a substance which
today is the underpinning of forensic fluorescent photography. In most
cases, the emitted light has a longer wavelength/lower energy, than the
absorbed light which is also called the ____________________.
This is based on the principle that when molecules or atoms absorb
photons (particle of lights), they gain energy and enter an excited stage
and have to emit photons to relax, thus losing that energy.
Note: You have to make sure that the filter you use on your camera
blocks out the light source that excites the atoms otherwise you will not
be able to see the fluorescence, as those photons are not as bright.
1859: Photographs Admissible in Court

In 1859, the United States Supreme Court found __________________
to be admissible as evidence in court.
In this case the Court ruled that photographs of a document were
properly admitted in place of the original document, for the purpose of
proving that a land grant title document was forged.
Case details: Luco vs. United States, 64 U.S. 23 How. 515 (1859).
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1861: First Color Photograph

In 1861, the first ____________________ image was produced by
James Clerk Maxwell, a Scottish scientist. His work was based on the
perception that if a sum of any three lights could reproduce any
perceivable color, then color photographs could be produced with a set
of three colored filters.
During a lecture in London he had Thomas Sutton, an English
photographer and inventor, photograph a ribbon three times. Sutton
used a red, a green, and a blue filter, then recombined the images into
one color composite.
1867: Crime Scene Photographs

In 1867, crime scenes were photographed for the first time in
Lausanne, ____________________. This quickly became popular in
the U.S. as well, and the slogans used to sell cameras were such as
Capture the scene as never before! No more unsightly sketches.
1875: Traffic Accident Photograph in Court

In 1875, the first ____________________ photograph was allowed as
evidence by the Superior Court in Massachusetts.
In this case, the plaintiff used a photograph to show the defect in a road
that led to his horse and buggy going off the embankment.
Case details: Luke Blair vs. Inhabitants of Pelham, 118 Mass 420
(1875).
1888: First Roll Film Camera

In 1888, George Eastman introduced the Kodak camera. It was the first
camera that used ____________________, a roll of paper that was
coated with a thin gelatin emulsion.
It contained enough film for 100 photographs; then the camera was
returned to the Eastman company for print development. It was
introduced with the slogan You press the button, we do the rest.
1890: Bertillon System of Criminal Identification

Alphonse Bertillon, a French police officer, was the first to realize that
photographs used for identification had to be standardized by using the
same lighting, scale, and angles. He wanted to replace current
photographic documentation of criminals with a system that would
guarantee reliable identification. He suggested ___________________
_______________ of profiles and full-face shots to identify criminals.

In 1890, he published his rules for a scientifically exact form of

identification photography. By the turn of the century, both his
measurement system and photographic rules had been accepted and
introduced in almost all U.S. states. Thus, Bertillon is credited with the
invention of the mug shot.
1894: The 35 mm Motion Picture Film

In 1894, American inventor Thomas Edison used the new flexible film,
supplied by George Eastman, to develop his 35 mm _______________
____________. This was the primary film type used for over 100 years.
The early acceptance of 35 mm as a standard had momentous impact
on the development and spread of cinema as it made it possible for
films to be shown in every country of the world.
1925: The 35 mm in Still Photography

In 1913 and 1914, Oscar Barnack, a German optical engineer,
developed the original Leica. Based on this Ur-Leica, the Leica I was
first introduced to the market at the 1925 spring fair in Leipzig.
This was the first mass-marketed 35 mm camera, using the 35 mm film
for still photography. Barnack suffered from asthma, and sought to
reduce____________________________ of his camera and supporting
equipment. Though a few other cameras had incorporated the 35 mm
film the Leicas popularity pushed out competitors and made 35 mm
the format of choice for high-end compact cameras.
1943: Color Photographs in Court

In 1943, ___________________________ were accepted in court for
the first time. The color photographs showed meat that was rotting and
still being sold in a grocery store.
Although this case set the standard for color photography in courts,
black and white photographs were still used for homicides and death
scenes for many years as one was afraid color photographs of such
scenes could upset the jury.
Case details: Green vs. the County and City of Denver, 111 Colo. 390
(1943).
1947: First Instant Camera

Edwin Herbert Land, an American scientist and inventor, introduced
the Polaroid Land Camera, the first ___________________________,
in 1947.
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The first commercially available model was the Polaroid Land Camera
Model 95, which produced prints in about one minute, and was first
sold to the public in November 1948.
1975: First Digital Camera

Steve Sasson of Kodak built the first ___________________________
in 1975. The camera weighed 8 pounds, recorded black and white
images to a cassette tape, had a resolution of 0.01 megapixels (10,000
pixels), and took 23 seconds to capture its first image in December
1975. The prototype camera was a technical exercise, not intended for
production.
Interestingly, the first digital photo was produced almost two decades
earlier in 1957 when Russell Kirsch made a 176176 pixel digital
image by scanning a photograph of his three-month-old son. The low
resolution was due to the fact that the computer they used was not
capable of storing more information.
2000s: Digital Cameras for Consumers

The first consumer digital cameras were marketed in the late 1990s. In
late 2002, 2-megapixel __________________________ cameras were
available in the United States for less than $100. Since 2003, digital
cameras have outsold film cameras.
Starting around 2007, digital cameras were incorporated in cellphones
and in the following years cellphone cameras became widespread,
particularly due to their connectivity to social media websites and
email.
Since 2010, the digital point-and-shoot and digital single lens reflex
(DSLR) formats have also seen competition from the mirrorless digital
camera format which typically provides better image quality than the
point-and-shoot or cellphone formats but comes in a smaller size and
shape than the typical DSLR.

References
References
Chapman, Leeayn. 2015. Introduction to Crime Scene Photography.
2nd edition. San Clemente, CA: LawTech Publishing Group.
Colorado Supreme Court. 1943. Green vs. the County and City of
Denver, 111 Colo. 390 (1943). <https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/
green-v.-city-county-denver/id518789998?mt=11> Accessed 04/10/
2016.
Hirsch, Robert. Exploring Color Photography: From Film to Pixels. 6th
edition. Oxford, UK: Focal Press.
Ippolito, Joseph A. 2003. Understanding Digital Photography. Canada:
Thomson, Delmar Learning.
London, Barbara, and Stone, Jim, and Upton, John. 2011. Photography.
10th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
(of this book a newer edition is available)
Massachusetts Superior Court. 1875. Luke Blair vs. Inhabitants of
Pelham, 118 Mass 420 (1875). <http://chnm.gmu.edu/aq/photos/texts/
118mass420.htm> Accessed 04/10/2016.
Robinson, Edward M. 2010. Crime Scene Photography. 2nd edition.
San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. 2009. Forensic
Photography I (FSA101). College Station, TX: TEEX.
Photography II (FSA112). College Station, TX: TEEX.
U.S. Supreme Court. 1859. Luco vs. United States, 64 U.S. 23 How. 515
(1859). <https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/64/515/
case.html> Accessed 04/10/2016.
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Module
Camera Types and Parts

Terminal Objective
Upon the successful completion of this module, participants will be able to demonstrate the ability
to select and operate an appropriate camera for crime scene documentation.
Enabling Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
Compare the two different types of digital cameras, point-and-shoot vs. SLR
Explain main camera parts and functions of standard DSLRs
Discuss accessories commonly used in crime scene photography
Review rules of thumb in relation to camera types and parts
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Point-and-Shoot vs. Single Lens Reflex
Point-and-Shoot vs. Single Lens Reflex

There are two main types of digital cameras:
______________________________
______________________________ (SLR)
Digital Point-and-Shoot
Advantages
Very user friendly
Small and light weight (photo capture occurs without an internal

mirror system)
Easy to carry, store, and transport
Relatively inexpensive
Disadvantages
Little manual user control when capturing images: Camera controls

image capture
Often no view finder: Framing of photo via LCD screen

(problematic in bright lighting)
______________________________: Photos taken in low light are

of poor quality
No long exposures (problematic in low light scenes)
Despite close-up or macro settings, often cannot shoot closer than

______________________________
Autofocus system tends to be slow: Capturing an image about 1

second after pressing the shutter button known as _____________
________________:
can result in capturing a blurry image, or
capturing the subject in a different pose/position than the

desired one.

Camera Parts and Functions
Digital Single Lens Reflex

Advantages
Allows user to have _____________________ over image capture
More extras and capabilities than point-and-shoot such as:
Viewfinder
Large image sensor
Long exposures possible
Can shoot close-ups
Fast autofocus
Produces quality images
Disadvantages
More ____________________ to use
Larger and heavier due to its internal mirror system
More expensive
Conclusion
Many agencies have issued point-and-shoot cameras for the purpose of
shooting basic scenes, and for a large portion of the patrol cases, they
work fine.
However, for a forensic photographer, a ________________________
is the camera of choice.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i
This is an explanation of basic parts and functions of a Canon Rebel
T3i.
Note: Other Canon models may have different buttons.
However, the overall types of buttons and their function will
remain similar.
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Canon Front (Figure 2.1)
Figure 2.1: Canon front view
Lens: The lens is a piece of ______________________ to focus the

subject on the sensor. It is attached to the front of the camera body.
Lenses come in different sizes and for different purposes, either as a
zoom lens or a non zoom lens (prime lens). The focal length of the
lenses is the measurement on the lens in millimeter. In this example
it is an 18-15 mm zoom lens. The lower the number the _________
the angle that it covers. The higher the number the less area but the
more magnified or closer to your subject it appears. You will learn
more about lenses in the accessories part later in this module.
Autofocus and Manual Focus Switch: This is a switch (reads AF

MF) on the lens itself. Most lenses these days can be switched
between autofocus and manual focus. It is recommended to use the
autofocus setting but allow for manual ______________________
_______________________. This will allow you to define the area
you would like to have in focus but let the camera do the focus for
you instead of you having to turn the lens into focus. You will learn
more automatic and manual focal points in module 3.
Image Stabilization Switch: This is a switch (reads STABILIZER

ON OFF) on the lens itself. Image stabilization, called _________
___________________________ in Nikon models, is a switch that
turns on a motor in the lens that helps to stabilize the lens while
handholding. It is recommend to have this feature turned on unless
you are using a tripod.

Lens Release Button: The lens release button (half circle button) is
on the _______________________, next to the lens. When pushed,
you can rotate the lens to remove it and attach a different lens.
Please refer to your cameras user manual for a detailed description
on how to attach and remove lenses.
Internal Flash: On the very top of your camera you will find the
internal pop-up flash that pops out when the setting on the camera
allows for the flash to be used or when it is activated manually.
Flash is used to __________________ your subject in low lighting
conditions. The internal pop-up flash is not typically sufficient for
crime scene photography. You will learn more about external
flashes in the accessories section later in this module.
Flash Button: The flash button (lightning bolt symbol) allows you
to manually activate the internal ___________________________.
You can only activate the internal flash when your camera is set to
any of the manual modes. In the automatic modes, the camera will
control the use of the flash. You can find more information about
manual and automatic modes in the command dial section.
Audio and Video Output: The audio and video output are on the
side of the camera body. Here you can connect an AV cable from
your camera to your TV. Below it you find an HDMI output that
allows you to watch your images on your TV in _______________
_____________________.
Note: Make sure to always turn off the camera before
connecting to a device. Turn it back on after the connection has
been established.
Remote Control Terminal: This terminal is on the side of the

camera body. Here you can connect a remote switch. We will learn
more about accessories like remote controls later in this module.
Below the remote control terminal, you also find an external
microphone terminal which allows you to connect an external
__________________________ when recording video with audio.
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Canon Back (Figure 2.2)
Figure 2.2: Canon back view
Viewfinder: This is a small window on the top back of the camera

through which you view and frame the subject/scene.
Menu Button: By pressing the menu button (reads MENU) you

open the __________________________.
Information Button: Pressing this button (reads INFO.) toggles

the view on the display between the shooting (recording) screen
and the menu (camera settings) screen.
____________________________ Knob: When in shooting mode,

look through the viewfinder and turn this knob to the left or right
until the nine autofocus (AF) points in the viewfinder look sharp.
Display: Newer cameras have LCD displays on the back of the

camera; some can be ____________________ of the cameras back
(as in this example), others are fixed. The display shows different
information depending on whether you are in shooting, menu, or
playback mode.

Autofocus and Magnify Buttons: In shooting mode you can use the
right of the two buttons to toggle between automatic and manual
autofocus point selection; press this button and use either the arrow
buttons on the back of your camera or look through the viewfinder
and use the ________________________ to select the focus point.
In playback mode these buttons allow you to zoom in/out when
viewing images taken.
Note: To zoom in/out of the object you are photographing you
either need to step closer or further away or use a zoom lens and
change the distance by turning the lens right or left.
Video Record Button: When in movie mode, use this button

(camera symbol) to start and stop the recording of a video.
Exposure and ____________________________________ Button:

In some modes, you can use this button (reads Av) to change the
exposure. Press it down and turn the main dial to the right for
increased (brighter), and to the left for decreased (darker) exposure.
Each movement up and down the scale is recorded in what is called
an aperture stop, that doubles or halves the amount of exposure.
You will learn more about exposure and aperture stops in module 3.
In manual mode, you can use this button in combination with the
command dial to change the aperture.
__________________________ Button: When pressing this button

(reads WB) in shooting mode, different white balance options
will appear on your camera display. White balance will ensure that
white is shown as white and not with a color cast. The following are
the common options:
AWB: Lets that camera choose what it believes the best lighting
should be
Daylight: Shooting in daylight
Shade: Shooting in the shade
Cloudy: Shooting on a cloudy day
________________________: Shooting where the main light is

tungsten such as a household lamp
Fluorescent: Subject is mainly under a fluorescent light
Flash: You are using your flash to illuminate your subject
Timer Button: When in shooting mode, you can set a timer via this
button to one of the following options:
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Remote control: Allows you to trip the ______________________

with an infrared remote
Self-timer: When the shutter is pushed the camera will delay for
2 seconds or 10 seconds before tripping the shutter
Self-timer with continuous shoots: Available in some camera

models, a timer to choose how many pictures should be taken in
a _______________________ shot after the time has run down
Autofocus Button: When pressing this button (reads AF) in

shooting mode, different autofocus options will appear on your
camera display. The following options are Canon specific:
One shot: Will not fire unless your subject is in focus
AI Focus: Will determine if subject is ____________________
AI Servo: Shooting a moving subject
Manual Focus (MF): You manually focus the camera
Picture Style Button: When in shooting mode and the camera is set
to a manual mode, you can use this button to choose from one of the
following picture settings:
Auto: Color tone will be adjusted to fit the scene
Standard: General-purpose picture style for most scenes
Portrait: This is for nicer skin colors and a softer looking image
Landscape: This is for vivid blues and ____________________
Neutral: This is for natural colors and subdued image
Monochrome: Creates black-and-white images
Playback Button: By pressing the playback button (black triangle

symbol, sideways), you can open the image playback mode.
Delete Button: When in playback mode, this button (trash can

symbol) is used to delete the image currently visible in the display.
You should never do this in forensic photography. Due to discovery
laws, all images, even ones that are not well captured, have to be
turned in as _________________________. You will learn more
about this in module 5.
Memory Card Slot: This slot is located on the side and holds the
memory card that will store the photos. Memory cards are usually
of compact flash (CF) or _______________________ (SD) format.
You will learn more about different media cards and how to
maintain them in module 5. Please refer to your cameras user
manual for a detailed description on how to insert and remove a
memory card.

Canon Top (Figure 2.3)
Figure 2.3: Canon top view
Hook: There is a hook on each side of the top of the camera where
you can attach a camera strap which allows you to carry the camera
safely around your neck.
Hotshoe/Accessory Shoe: On the very top of your camera, on top of

the internal flash you find the hotshoe to which you can attach an
external flash or ________________________________________
that connects to an external flash. You will learn more about
external flashes in the accessories part later in this module.
Shutter Release Button: This button on the top right of the camera
is used to activate the auto focus and trip the shutter which means
taking your photograph. When the shutter button is depressed half
way it measures the amount of light coming into the camera for a
proper exposure. When the shutter button is pushed all the way, the
shutter, which acts like a curtain, opens and closes allowing light to
fall onto the ___________________________. The amount of light
that strikes the sensor determines how bright or how dark the
resulting photograph is.
Main Dial: The main dial, also called ________________________

_________________________________ dial, allows you to move
around the menu or the back of the display on your camera. On
certain models you can use it to change exposure and other settings
when in a respective manual mode or in combinations with specific
buttons on the camera such as the ISO or selecting AF points.
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Display Button: Press the display button (reads DISPL.) if you

want to turn off the display to save battery power.
ISO Button: This button (reads ISO) controls the film speed or
the sensitivity the sensor has to light. While pressing the button you
can change the ISO by turning the __________________________.
You can only change the ISO when the camera is set to a manual
mode not to an automatic mode.
Mode Dial: The mode dial lets you select between _____________
and manual modes.
Power Switch: This switch (reads ON OFF) is located next to the

mode dial and used to turn the camera on and off.
Canon Bottom (Figure 2.4)
Figure 2.4: Canon bottom view
Battery Compartment: The compartment is on the _____________

____________________________ of the camera. This is where the
cameras battery is located. Please refer to your cameras user
manual for a detailed description on how to insert, remove, and
charge the battery. It is recommended to always have a fully
charged replacement battery with you to ensure you will not run out
of battery while photographing a crime scene.

__________________________________: This hole can be found

in the middle of the bottom of the camera. This is where you can
attach a tripod. A tripod is a necessary tool for a forensic
photographer. Please refer to your cameras user manual or research
online to see what kind of tripods you can use. You will learn more
about tripods and other stabilization methods in the accessories part
later in this module.
Canon Display
Shooting Mode Display (Figure 2.5)
Figure 2.5: Canon shooting mode display view
Note: This is only a selection. Please refer to your cameras

user manual for more details.
Open Shooting Mode: You can open the shooting mode by pressing
the information button (reads INFO.).
________________________: On the top left corner of the display

in shooting mode, you can see the current mode the camera is set to.
In this example it is the AV, or aperture mode which means you can
choose the aperture and the camera will adapt the shutter speed
accordingly. You can find more information about manual and
automatic modes in the command dial section.
Aperture Value: In the top middle of the display you can see the
current aperture value selected. If the camera is set to a mode that
allows for changing the aperture, you can turn the ___________
_________________ and adjust it.
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ISO Value: In the top right hand corner of the display you can see
the current ISO value. You can change it by using the ISO button
(top view of the camera). If you have the ISO set to automatic, you
will not be able to change the ISO value. It is recommended, to
manually select ISO. You will learn more about ISO values and
what they mean in module 3.
Exposure Level Indicator: This meter, right below the camera mode
indicator, provides information for a proper exposure; it has a plus
side and a minus side. If the meter falls to the minus side, the
picture will be _____________________. If it falls to the positive
side, the picture will be ______________________. A correctly
exposed photo should fall in the center marking. This is what the
camera does automatically except when it is set to a manual mode.
Picture Style: When the camera is set to a manual mode, right

below the exposure level indicator, you can see you the current
picture style used (for information see picture style button above).
Autofocus Mode: Right below the picture style indicator, you can
see the current autofocus mode used (for information see autofocus
button above).
___________________: In the middle of the bottom of the display,

you can see how the battery indicator showing much battery life the
camera has left. It is recommended to always have a fully charged
replacement battery with you to ensure you will not run out of
battery while photographing a crime scene.
Metering Mode: Above the battery level indicator, you can see a
symbol for the current metering mode used which determines how
much of the ___________________ is going to be used to evaluate
the light coming into the camera to determine a proper exposure. If
the camera mode allows for it, you can change metering to one of
the following options (Canon specific):
Evaluate metering: Uses all of the viewfinder
Partial metering: Uses the center of the viewfinder
________________________: Uses the center focal point only
Center-weighted average metering: Uses the center and

considers that for a majority of its decision but does take into
account some of the surrounding area
Remaining Images: On the bottom right hand corner of the display

a number identifies how many images can still fit on the camera
________________________ with the selected image quality/size.

Image Quality: Right above the remaining images indicator, you

can see the current image quality used. The image quality goes
from small to large and refers to JPEG settings. The lower the
quality the more the camera compresses the picture, the more data
is lost. For forensic photography the majority of photos are taken in
large. You can also select the image size in your menu as RAW
which produces unprocessed images with all details captured. You
should select RAW when shooting _________________________
____________________________.
Menu Mode Display (Figure 2.6)
Figure 2.6: Canon menu mode display view

Open Menu Mode: By pressing the menu button (reads MENU)

you open the menu mode.
Menu Navigation: You navigate the menu via the four arrow
buttons (up, down, left, and right) that are located ______________
to the display.
Menu Setting Tabs/Sub-Menus: Depending on the model of your

camera you will have a variety of setting tabs available. You can
make selections and choices for:
date and time,
_______________________,
white balance,
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metering,
and many more.
Playback Mode Display (Figure 2.7)
Figure 2.7: Canon playback mode display view
Open Playback Mode: By pressing the playback button (black

triangle symbol, sideways), you can open the image playback
mode.
Image Navigation: You navigate between the images via the left
and right arrow buttons right next to the display.
Image Zoom In/Out: You can zoom in/out of an image via the zoom
buttons on the top right corner of the back of the camera. When you
zoom out you will see thumbnails of your ____________________.
_________________________: In the top left corner of the display

in playback mode, you can see with which shutter speed the picture
was taken. In this example the shutter speed is 1/13 of a second.
You will learn more about shutter speed in module 3.
Aperture: Right next to the shutter speed value you find the
aperture with which the picture was taken. In this example the
aperture is f/5.6. You will learn more about aperture in module 3.
Image Number: On the top right hand corner of the display you find
the individual ______________________ or file name.
__________________________: On the bottom left corner of the

display you can see the currently viewed image out of the total
number of images taken.

Nikon D3000
This is an explanation of basic parts and functions of a Nikon D3000.
Note: Other Nikon models may have different buttons.
However, the overall types of buttons and their function will
remain similar.
Nikon Front (Figure 2.8)
Figure 2.8: Nikon front view
Lens: The lens is a piece of optical glass to focus the subject on the
sensor. It is attached to the front of the camera body. Lenses come
in different sizes and for different purposes, either as a zoom lens or
a non zoom lens (prime lens). The __________________________
of the lenses is the measurement on the lens in millimeter. In this
example it is an 18-55 mm zoom lens. The lower the number the
wider the angle that it covers. The higher the number the less area
but the more magnified or closer to your subject it appears. You will
learn more about lenses in the accessories part later in this module.
Autofocus and Manual Focus Switch: This is a switch (reads

A M) on the lens itself. Most lenses these days can be switched
between autofocus and manual focus. It is recommended to use the
______________________ setting but allow for manual focal point
selection. This will allow you to define the area you would like to
have in focus but let the camera do the focus for you instead of you
having to turn the lens into focus. You will learn more automatic
and manual focal points in module 3.
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_____________________________: This is a switch (reads VR

ON OFF) on the lens itself. Vibration reduction, called image
stabilization in Canon models, is a switch that turns on a motor in
the lens that helps to stabilize the lens while handholding. It is
recommend to have this feature turned on unless you are using a
tripod.
Lens Release Button: The lens release button (half circle button) is
on the camera body, next to the lens. When pushed, you can ______
________________ the lens to remove it and attach a different lens.
on how to attach and remove lenses.
Internal Flash: On the very top of your camera you will find the
internal pop-up flash that pops out when the setting on the camera
allows for the flash to be used or when it is activated manually.
Flash is used to illuminate your subject in low lighting conditions.
The internal pop-up flash is not ____________________________
for crime scene photography. You will learn more about external
flashes in the accessories section later in this module.
Flash and Flash Mode Button: While your camera is set to a manual
mode, you can use this button (lightning bolt symbol) to manually
activate the internal pop-up flash and to change the flash mode
(auto, off, red eye reduction, fill flash). When set to an __________
__________ mode, the camera will control the use of the flash;
however, you can still control the flash mode.
Timer and Function Button: The self timer is used when the
photographer wishes to take a picture without pressing the shutter
release button. By pressing the timer button (reads Fn) you can
toggle the self-timer on and off. In addition, this button serves as
multi function button. In combination with holding the button and
turning the _____________________, you can make changes to the
release mode, image quality and size, ISO sensitivity, white
balance, and others.
Video Output and USB Connector: The video output and USB
connector are on the side of the camera. Here you can connect a
video cable from your camera to your TV. Please check your
camera's user manual to find out which specific cable will fit.
Below the video output is a USB slot where you can connect the
camera with your computer via the supplied USB cable.
Note: Make sure to always ____________________ the camera
before connecting to a device. Turn it back on after the
connection has been established.

Nikon Back (Figure 2.9)
Figure 2.9: Nikon back view
__________________________: This is a small window on the top

back of the camera through which you view and frame the subject/
scene.
Diopter Adjustment Control: When in ______________________,

look through the viewfinder and slide this control up and down
until the viewfinder display and focus points are in sharp focus.
Focus Lock Button: Within the setup menu you can define what this
button (reads AE-L AF-L) should do while in shooting mode. You
can choose between focus and exposure lock, exposure or focus
lock, and others. After you made the selection, keep this button
pressed while you use the ___________________ button to ensure
all images are taken with the exact same focus setting. When in
playback mode, you can press this button and lock an image to
make sure it cannot be deleted via the delete button.
____________________________: The command dial, also called

main/control/subcommand dial, can be used with other controls to
adjust a variety of settings while in shooting mode. Depending on
the mode the camera is set to, you can change a combination of
aperture and shutter speed, or only shutter speed or aperture, or use
it to choose a flash mode. It can also be used in combination with
the function button at the front of the camera to change ISO, white
balance, and other settings.
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Playback Button: By pressing the playback button (black triangle

symbol, sideways), you can open the _______________________
_______________________.
Menu Button: By pressing the menu button (reads MENU) you

open the menu mode.
Zoom Out and Help Button: While in playback mode you can use
this button (minus symbol, question mark symbol) to display more
images at once. If a ______________________ icon is displayed at
the bottom left corner of the display while in menu or guide mode,
you can press this button to read a description of the currently
selected option of menu. Use the multi selector buttons to scroll
through the text.
Zoom In and Information Button: While in playback mode you can

use this button (plus symbol, reads i) to display less images.
When four images are displayed, you can press this button to view
the highlighted image in full frame. While in _________________
_____________, you can press this button to change settings for the
items listed on the display. You can navigate and select the items on
the display via the multi selector buttons and okay button.
Display: Newer cameras have LCD displays on the back of the

camera; some can be flipped out of the cameras back, others are
fixed (as in this example). The display shows different information
depending on whether you are in shooting, menu, or playback
mode. This Nikon has an additional _________________________
that gives access to a variety of frequently used functions.
Multi Selector Buttons: These buttons (up, down, left, and right)
that are located on the right side of the display are used to navigate
between items on the cameras display.
Okay Button: Use this button (reads OK) to select a highlighted

item when navigating the __________. To exit without making a
selection, you need to press the menu button.
Delete Button: When in playback mode, this button (trash can

symbol) is used to delete the image currently visible in the display.
You should never do this in forensic photography. Due to _______
_____________________________, all images, even ones that are
not well captured, have to be turned in as evidence. You will learn
more about this in module 5.

Memory Card Slot: This slot is located on the side and holds the
memory card that will store the photos. Memory cards are usually
of _______________________ (CF) or secure digital (SD) format.
You will learn more about different media cards and how to
maintain them in module 5. Please refer to your cameras user
manual for a detailed description on how to insert and remove a
memory card.
Nikon Top (Figure 2.10)
Figure 2.10: Nikon top view
Hook: There is a hook on each side of the top of the camera where
you can attach a camera strap which allows you to carry the camera
safely around your neck.
Hotshoe/Accessory Shoe: On the very top of your camera, on top of

the internal flash you find the hotshoe to which you can attach ____
______________________________________________________
that connects to an external flash. You will learn more about
external flashes in the accessories part later in this module.
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Shutter Release Button: This is the button on the top right corner of
the camera is used to activate the auto focus and trip the shutter
which means taking your photograph. When the shutter button is
depressed half way it measures the __________________________
coming into the camera for a proper exposure. When the shutter
button is pushed all the way, the shutter, which acts like a curtain,
opens and closes allowing light to fall onto the camera sensor. The
amount of light that strikes the sensor determines how bright or
how dark the resulting photograph is.
Power Switch: This switch (reads ON OFF) is located next to the

shutter release button is where you can turn the camera on and off.
Information Button: Press the information button (reads info) to

open the ____________________________ and to see information
such as shutter speed, aperture, and number of pictures remaining.
Exposure and Aperture _____________________ Button: In some

modes, you can use this button (plus and minus symbol) to change
the exposure. Press it down and turn the main dial to the right for
increased (brighter), and to the left for decreased (darker) exposure.
In manual mode, you can use this button in combination with the
command dial to change the aperture.
Mode Dial: The mode dial lets you select between automatic and
____________________ modes.
Nikon Bottom (Figure 2.11)
Figure 2.11: Nikon bottom view

Battery Compartment: The compartment is on the side of the

bottom of the camera. This is where the cameras battery is located.
on how to insert, remove, and charge the battery. It is recommended
to always have a fully charged _____________________________
with you to ensure you will not run out of battery while
photographing a crime scene.
Tripod Mount Hole: This hole can be found in the middle of the
bottom of the camera. This is where you can attach a ___________.
A tripod is a necessary tool for a forensic photographer. Please refer
to your cameras user manual or research online to see what kind of
tripods you can use. You will learn more about tripods and other
stabilization methods in the accessories part later in this module.
Nikon Display
Shooting Mode (Figure 2.12)
Figure 2.12: Nikon shooting mode display view

Open Shooting Mode: You can open the shooting mode or

information display when pressing the information button (reads
info) on the __________ of the camera.
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Information Button: You have to press the information button

(reads i) on the __________ of the camera if you want to change
the settings for any of the items listed on the display such as
aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. Depending on the mode the camera
is set to, more or less items can be adjusted.
Shooting Mode Navigation: After you pressed the information

button on the back of the camera, you can navigate between the
items on the display via the multi selector buttons (up, down, left,
and right) that are located on the right side of the display and press
the okay button (reads OK) to view options for the ___________
____________ item.
Camera Mode: In the top left corner of the display you can see the
current __________ the camera is set to. In this example it is A, or
automatic mode. You can find more information about manual and
automatic modes in command dial section.
Image Quality and Size: In the top right corner you can see the
current image quality and size. The image quality can be set from
basic, normal to fine in JPEG format (increasing image quality). It
can also be set to the __________ format which produces
unprocessed images with all details captured. You should select
RAW when shooting examination quality/close-up photographs.
The image size can be adjusted from small, medium to large
(increasing image size). For forensic photography the majority of
photos are taken in large and fine.
Battery Level: Left from the image size indicator you can see the
battery ____________________ showing how much battery life
the camera has left. It is recommended to always have a fully
charged replacement battery with you to ensure you will not run out
of battery while photographing a crime scene.
White Balance: Below the image size indicator you can see the
current white balance (WB) mode used. White balance will ensure
that __________ is shown as white and not with a color cast. If the
camera mode allows for it, you can change WB to one of the
following options (Nikon specific):
Auto: Lets that camera choose what it believes the best lighting
should be
Direct sunlight: Shooting in sunlight
Shade: Shooting in the shade
Cloudy: Shooting on a cloudy day
Incandescent: Shooting where the main light is incandescent

such as a household lamp

____________________: Subject is mainly under a fluorescent

light
Flash: You are using your flash to illuminate your subject
ISO Value: Below the WB indicator, you can see the current ISO
value. You can select the ISO value you would like to use. When
the camera is set to an automatic mode, you can choose an
automatic ISO and the camera will set the ISO automatically.
However, it is recommended, to ___________________ select ISO.
You will learn more about ISO values and what they mean in
module 3.
Autofocus Mode: Below the ISO indicator, you can see the current
autofocus (AF) mode used. The following options are Nikon
specific:
Auto-Servo (AF-A): Camera _____________________ selects

autofocus
Single-Servo (AF-S): Focus locks when shutter release button

is pressed halfway (stationary subject)
Continuous-Servo (AF-C): Camera focuses ________________

while shutter release button is pressed halfway (moving
subject)
Manual Focus (MF): You manually focus the camera
Metering Mode: Below the AF mode indicator you can see the
metering mode that is currently used which determines how much
of the viewfinder is going to be used to evaluate _______________
coming into the camera to determine a proper exposure. If the
camera mode allows for it, you can change metering to one of the
following options (Nikon specific):
Matrix metering: Uses wide area of the viewfinder and sets

exposure according to tone distribution, color, and composition
Center-weighted metering: Uses entire viewfinder but assigns

greatest weight to the center
Spot metering: Uses current ____________________________

(good to meter off-center subjects)
Remaining Images: On the bottom right corner of the display you

can see a number identifying how many images can still fit on the
camera memory card with the selected image _________________
and __________________.
Shutter Speed Value: In the middle of the display you can see the
current shutter speed selected. If the camera is set to a mode that
allows for changing the shutter speed, you can adjust it.
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Aperture Value: Right next to the shutter speed value you can see
the current aperture value selected. If the camera is set to a mode
that allows for changing the aperture, you can adjust it.
Exposure Level Indicator: Below shutter speed and aperture value,

you can see the exposure level indicator that provides information
for a ________________________________; it has a plus side and
a minus side. If the meter falls to the minus side, the picture will be
underexposed. If it falls to the positive side, the picture will be
overexposed. A correctly exposed photo should fall in the center
marking. This is what the camera does automatically except when it
is set to a manual mode.
Menu Mode (Figure 2.13)
Figure 2.13: Nikon menu mode display view

Open Menu Mode: By pressing the menu button (reads MENU)

you open the _______________ mode.
Menu Navigation: You navigate the menu via the four multi
selector buttons (up, down, left, and right) and the OK button that
are located on the ________________ side of the display.

Sub-Menu: Depending on the model of your camera you will have

a variety of sub-menus available. In this example you can make
changes in the following:
Playback (image review, picture rotation, slideshow, display

mode)
Shooting (image quality/size, __________________________,

ISO, focus mode)
Setup (date/time, language, timer delay)
Retouch (red-eye reduction, filter effects, color balance)
Recent settings (lists twenty most recently used settings)
Playback Mode (Figure 2.14)
Figure 2.14: Nikon playback mode display view
Note: More information will be displayed, such as aperture,

shutter speed, and other shooting data, when the corresponding
options are selected in the ______________________________
in the overall menu.
Open Playback Mode: By pressing the playback button (black

triangle symbol, sideways), you can open the image playback
mode.
Menu Navigation: You navigate the menu via the four multi
selector buttons (up, down, left, and right) that are located on the
right side of the display.
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Image Zoom In/Out: You can zoom in/out of an image via the zoom
buttons (plus and minus symbol). When you zoom out you will see
________________________ of your images.
Images Taken: On the top right corner of the display you can see
the currently viewed image out of the total number of images taken.
Image Number: In the bottom middle of the display you can see the
individual image number or __________________________.
Date and Time: Below the image number you can see the date and
time when the image was taken.
Image Quality and Size: On the bottom right corner of the display
you can see the image quality and size.
Guide Mode (Figure 2.15)
Figure 2.15: Nikon guide mode display view

Open Guide Mode: You can reach the guide mode by turning the
________________________ to the guide mode (reads GUIDE).
Guide Mode Navigation: You navigate the guide mode via the four
multi selector buttons (up, down, left, and right) and the OK button
that are located on the right side of the display.

Guide Mode Sub-Menus: You can choose from the following submenus:
Shoot
View/delete
_____________________
The Dial
Figure 2.16: Left side: Canon dial; right side: Nikon dial
The dial (Figure 2.16), also called ____________________, is where

you can change the mode of your camera. You can choose between
automatic modes in which the camera controls most of the settings, and
manual/creative modes in which you have more control over the exact
settings.
Note: We will only introduce the main modes that are common
in most cameras. For a detailed list, please check your cameras
user manual.
See Command Mode and Icons Handout on page A-1.
Manual Mode
This is one of the manual modes. In this mode you can control the
shutter speed and the ________________. The camera will still suggest
other settings, such as the meter reading.
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Aperture Priority Mode

The aperture priority or aperture value mode is one of the manual
modes. When this mode is selected, you can control the aperture
yourself but the camera will set the ____________________________
automatically.
You will learn more about aperture in module 3.
Shutter Speed Priority Mode
The shutter speed priority or time value mode is one of the manual
modes. When this mode is selected, you can control the shutter speed
yourself but the camera will set the ____________________________
automatically.
You will learn more about shutter speed in module 3.
Program Mode
In program mode the camera automatically sets the shutter speed and
aperture to match the scenes _________________________.
However, this is considered a manual mode as the camera will not
activate the flash automatically. You can also change the ISO
sensitivity and many other settings in program mode.
Automatic Mode
In this fully automatic mode, the camera analyzes the scene and sets the
settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, flash) automatically.
In forensic photography, it is recommended you __________________
this mode.
No Flash Mode
The no flash mode is like the automatic mode in that the camera
analyzes the scene and sets the settings automatically. The only
difference is that the ____________________ will not fire.
In forensic photography, it is recommended you do not use this mode.
Portrait Mode
In this automatic mode the camera will favor a smaller aperture number
for a shallow _____________________ and focuses on subjects closer
to the camera while it blurs the background. You will learn more about
this in module 3.
In this mode, the camera will also soften skin tones.

Landscape Mode
This automatic mode is designed for landscape shots taken in
_________________. The aperture will be of higher value to maximize
and deepen depth of field. The built-in flash will be turned off.
Close-Up Mode
In this automatic mode the camera will favor a ___________________
_________________________ number for a shallow depth of field and
focuses on subjects closer to the camera while it blurs the background.
Sports Mode
In the automatic sports mode, the flash is turned off. The camera will
use fast shutter speeds which will slow down ____________________.
You will learn more about this in module 3.
Night Portrait Mode
In this automatic mode, the flash will fire to light your subject. In
addition, the camera will use a ___________________ shutter speed to
capture the background lighting as well.
Movie Mode
This is an automatic mode that exists in newer Canon and Nikon
models. It allows for high definition video recording.
Automatic Depth of Field Mode (A-DEP)
This is a manual mode specific to some Canon models. Objects in the
fore- and background will be in focus automatically.
Child Mode
In this Nikon specific automatic mode, the camera ensures colorful
background and clothing colors while ensuring soft and natural looking
skin tones.
Guide Mode
Using this Nikon specific mode, you can access frequently-used
_______________ and other useful functions. This is not a mode as the
others in that it controls exposure and camera settings but rather a quick
menu access.
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Accessories
Accessories
Tripods and Stabilization Methods
Introduction
Tripods are useful for sharp close-up photos, such as macro
photography, of tool marks, bite marks, fingerprints, or anything you
plan to use as measurement and compare to a real object.
They are also needed in __________ light photography with long
shutter speeds such as night scenes, or to take pictures of
chemiluminescent reactions of chemicals such as blue star and luminol.
Installing and using a tripod might seem cumbersome and it is
understandable that there are many other things to do when processing
a crime scene. However, you only get one chance to get it right. Most
of the time you will not get a second chance to shoot the subject so
slow down, get a tripod, and get the sharpest photo possible.
Tripods and Stabilization Methods Examples
Tripod: Tripods come in different sizes, made for pocket, tabletop,

travel, or heavy duty. The tripod has ____________ parts: the head,
the center column, the legs (that can be collapsed and extended),
and the feet. The head comes in different styles; some are
replaceable; some come with a quick release attachment:
______________________________: Either with single handle

for horizontal movement or dual handles for horizontal and
vertical movement; most common type of head
Ball-Head: One control that loosens or tightens the grip; some

come with a _______________ grip; very flexible
Gimbal Head: A tilt and pan with many levers; for long and
heavy lenses
______________________________: The Bogen magic arm is a

positional tripod. It has an articulating arm that you brace to a table
or door on one end and then articulate the arm in a way that your
camera is in the position you need. Then you turn the knob to lock
the articulating arm in place. A magic arm is a great option to take
photographs in small and awkward spaces.
Rice/Bean/Sand Bag: A rice, bean, or sand bag can also steady the
camera while on the ground.

Accessories
Lenses and Focal Length

Introduction
Lenses come in different sizes and for different purposes, either as a
zoom lens or as non zoom lens, also called __________________ lens.
The focal length of the lens, measured in millimeters, is the distance
between the lens and the image sensor when the subject is in focus.
The lower the number the wider the angle that it covers.
The higher the number the less area but the more magnified or
closer to your subject it appears.
Lens Examples
Standard Kit Zoom Lens: Most digital SLR cameras come with a
kit lens, usually an __________________ mm lens. This zoom lens
is good for overall general photos, but it is not capable of the close
focusing that is needed for some forensic photography.
Macro Lens: The first lens you will want to add to your kit to go
along with an overall lens should be a macro lens. A macro lens
produces an image on the digital sensor that is the same size or
larger than the subject being imaged; hence it is best for _________
____________ photographs. A macro lens may be of any focal
length, the actual focal length being determined by its practical use,
considering magnification, the required ratio, access to the subject,
and illumination considerations.
Wide-Angle Lens:
Wide-angle: 35 mm focal length or wider (smaller mm)
Ultra-wide angle: 24 mm or wider
Wide-angle lenses are great for:
Photographing a big scene
Capturing a smaller scene in a limited amount of space
Creating a close-to-subject perspective that gives the viewer a

sense of presence in the photo
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Accessories
__________________________________: This is a specific type

of long-focus lens in which the physical length of the lens is shorter
than the focal length.
Telephoto lenses are great for:
Enlarging _______________ objects
Filling the frame
Shallow depth of field (as in portraits, creating a blurred

background)
Flashes, Camera Sync Cords, and Diffusers

Introduction
The internal, pop-up flash that comes with the camera will not work for
crime scene photography:
That flash is only good for about eight feet and is at the same level
with the lens. This can cause _______________________ creating
a bright spot on your photo and red eye.
The hot spot can flash out details in close-ups: If there is a longer
lens on the camera, the pop-up flash is blocked by the lens and will
create a shadow on the lower part of your photo caused by the light
striking the lens instead of your subject.
For correct crime scene photography, it is recommended to have:
A _______________________ flash or speedlight which are

external flashes that connect to the top of your camera or to a
camera sync cord
A _______________________ or off-camera shoe flash cord which

is a cord that attaches to the bottom of your external flash and to the
top of your camera; this allows you to move the flash around to
direct your light for the photo
A _________________ to attach to the flash that softens the light to

reduce harsh shadows

Accessories
Flash, Camera Sync Cord, and Diffuser Examples
External Flash: An external flash is capable of shooting

approximately 30 feet in front of the camera, and sits up higher to
avoid red eye and to not be blocked by larger lenses. Depending on
the flash you use, it can have specific features such as the head
being able to tilt and move or you can adjust the power of the flash.
The flash can have a piece of plastic that slides out of the top; this is
called a ______________________________. That is not a diffuser
but rather for wide angle shots to make the flash spread out further
side to side.
Sync Cord: The sync chord attaches to the bottom of your flash and
to the ___________ of your camera. This allows for the flash to be
moved around to direct your light for the photo. Examples where
this can be useful are taking pictures of bite marks, tool marks, and
shoe or tire impressions. When taking a photo of anything with
shadows and texture, you have to use your flash to shine at an
oblique angle so the light shines across the subject instead of
directly down on it. This creates shadows that will show details
more clearly.
Diffuser: When using an external flash, it can create harsh shadows

to a subject or create strong hot spots. One way to avoid this is to
use a diffuser on your flash which will ________________ the light
and ensure more natural lighting. Make sure to consider size,
compatibility, and brightness when purchasing a diffuser.
Note: If you do not have a diffuser you can always build your
own by using coffee filters, thin paper, or parchment paper.
Filter
Introduction
A filter is something you screw on the end of your lens to add an effect.
One that is the cheapest and should be bought immediately for all your
lenses is an ___________________________ (UV) haze filter which is
a clear piece of glass. It does remove some haze when shooting
outdoors. However, the main purpose of having one is to protect the
lens glass.
Filter Examples
UV Haze Filter: As previously mentioned this clear filter will filter

out some of the haze when taking pictures outdoors. More
importantly, however, it will _______________ your lens.
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Accessories
Circular Polarizer: The circular polarizer works similar to polarized

sunglasses. It reduces glare and allows you to photograph subjects
in water or on the other side of glass, limiting _________________.
An example is photographing a person in a car, while reducing the
reflection of the windshield.
Infrared Filter: The infrared (IR) filter is used in specialized

forensic photography. Traditional photography records images in
the visible range of the ___________________________________
(400-700 nanometers, nm). The IR filter blocks all visible light and
only allows light in the 700-1200 nm range. This filter may be
useful to make alterations to documents visible that otherwise
cannot be seen with normal eyesight. It may also enhance visibility
of gunpowder residue or bloodstains.
Orange Filter: When used in conjunction with an ______________

_________________________ (ALS), an orange filter can be used
to enhance visibility of body fluids such as saliva and semen.
Blue Filter: The blue filter can be useful to enhance visibility of

______________________.
Neutral Density Filter: The neutral density filter, also referred to as

an ND filter, will allow you to take _________________________
during daytime. One example would be to allow a long enough
exposure time for tracing a laser, such as in shooting reconstruction,
without creating an overexposed (too bright) image.
Shutter Release Methods

Introduction
Most DSLR cameras have a built in timer that can be set between 2 and
10 seconds, some models going up to 30 seconds, so that you do not
touch the camera when the shutter is fired. Movement of the camera
during image capture can result in _____________________________,
leading to blurry photographs.
However, DSLR cameras are capable of shooting much longer
exposures. In manual and shutter priority mode, you can adjust the
shutter speed to B or Bulb, meaning that the camera will keep
taking a picture until your finger comes off the shutter button.

Rules of Thumb
To avoid camera shake during long exposures, you should use a cable
release. A cable release is just an extension of the ________________
________________. When you push the button, it trips the shutter. The
important feature that a cable release has is that it can lock the shutter
while it is open. This allows you to take exposures as long as you like
until you unlock the shutter again. This may be useful in very dark or
night scenes.
Note: In those situations you would also need a ____________
to keep the camera steady.
A shutter release can be a cable connected to your camera or a remote
control.
Shutter Release Examples
Shutter Release Cable: Replicates all functions of the cameras

shutter release button and can be set to a time of up to 59 minutes,
depending on the model. Shutter release cables are useful for taking
pictures of subjects that are difficult to approach, or to
___________________ vibration for close-ups and long time
exposure. Shutter release cables can have different cable lengths
and additional settings such as self-timer, an interval timer, a longexposure timer, and an exposure-count setting feature. In some
models, the ____________________ can be illuminated.
Shutter Release Remote: This remote makes it possible to release

the shutter of your camera from as far as 16', depending on the
model. Some remotes are not useful for long exposures. However,
some models will allow you to take 2-second delay or instant
photographs without having to touch the camera or set the internal
camera timer.
Rules of Thumb
1. For a forensic photographer, a digital SLR is the camera of choice.
2. Remember to always consult your cameras __________________
____________________ for a complete description of all parts and
functions of your specific camera model.
3. A tripod, macro lens, and _________________________________
are the first additional accessories you may want to get.
Always check whether accessories will fit and support your
camera model.
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Rules of Thumb
4. Always ______________________ the camera before connecting it

to another device, such as a computer or TV.
After the connection has been established, turn on your camera.
5. When your camera needs to be on a tripod (and maybe even using a
cable release) is based on how fast your ______________________
____________________ is.
If shutter speed is below 1 divided by the focal length of the
lens for that shot, use a tripod to avoid camera shake.
6. If the camera is on a tripod, the image stabilization of the lens
should be turned off.

References
References
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Module
General Terms and Concepts

Terminal Objective
Upon the successful completion of this module, participants will be able to apply general terms
and concepts of photography.
Enabling Objectives
1. Explain how light affects image quality
2. Apply the three elements of the exposure triangle, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO in
photographic practices
3. Apply the concept of depth of field in photographic practices
4. Apply the concept of focus in photographic practices
5. Review rules of thumb in relation to general terms and concepts
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Light
Light
Introduction
A camera works by capturing _______________________, that enters
through the lens, on the sensor. Light strikes a surface which absorbs
certain colors from the light spectrum and ___________________ back
the colors that we see, such as a blue shirt reflecting back blue while
absorbing all the other colors.
The camera uses this principle to meter the amount of light coming into
the camera and to help determine how much light is needed for a good
exposure. To do so it uses a __________________________________
in the camera that measures light reflecting off the object you are
photographing.
Metering
In nature a majority of things reflect back __________ gray. This is
what your camera is calibrated to. It is expecting that the image being
captured is reflecting 18% gray. A large majority of the time it is
correct.
The camera makes its determination for a proper shutter speed and
aperture to allow the proper light into the camera based on its meter
reading of the available _____________________________________.
You can change the metering mode on your camera to define what the
camera uses to evaluate and determine the light situation. Most cameras
distinguish between:
spot (camera meters only the very center of viewfinder),
evaluative (average of various metering points),
and _____________________________ (center and some metering

spots are metered) metering.
Ambient vs. Additive Light

The light that enters the camera is either:
_________________________: light that exists in the environment

naturally
_________________________: light that you add with a light

source such as flash or flashlight

Exposure Triangle
Most of the time the ambient light will be enough to take your photo
outdoors. However, there are times even on bright sunny days that you
may need to use a flash to brighten up __________________________,
like for example when you take a picture of evidence under a car.
Shooting indoors will most often time require a flash to add light to the
scene. The flash can also be used for the purpose of photographing
subjects having shadows. The use of the flash does not negate the need
for a ___________________ in times when shutter speeds are too slow
to hand hold your camera and get a sharp photo.
In addition to using the ambient or additive light, your camera has
several settings that allow you to change the exposure of your image
and make it brighter or darker.
Exposure Triangle
In photography, exposure is the amount of light per unit area reaching
your cameras electronic image sensor.
There are three things that affect exposure, sometimes referred to as the
exposure triangle:
Aperture
_______________________
ISO
Figure 3.1: Exposure triangle
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Exposure Triangle
Note: Within this triangle only shutter speed and aperture are
actually changing how much light falls on the sensor. The ISO
setting is rather an amplification setting, making the camera
sensor more or less sensitive without controlling how much
light actually gets onto the sensor.
See Exposure Triangle Handout on page B-1.
Introduction
Exposure Analogy
Lets use an analogy to further explain exposure and the three concepts
of _____________________, shutter speed, and ISO.
Imagine a drinking glass that you have to get exactly full. To fill the
glass with water you open the faucet at full blast. It will take a certain
amount of time to fill up the glass. Lets say that in 2 seconds the glass
if perfectly full. If you left the water on for 4 seconds it would overflow
and if you left it on for 1 second it would not be filled.
Now imagine how the time to fill your glass would change if you filled
it via a water hose (less time) or the end of an eye dropper (more time).
Or how the time to fill it would change if you took a bigger (more time)
or smaller glass (less time).
How does this apply to photography?
To relate this example to photography and exposure, lets substitute the
glass of water with the ____________________ of your digital camera.
To have a properly exposed photo (the perfectly filled glass) you have
to allow a certain amount of light to get to the sensor.
If you overexpose your photo (overfill the glass) it will be too

bright.
If you do not allow enough light (do not fill up the glass) it will
underexpose and be too dark.
How can you manipulate the exposure triangle elements to reach the
correct _________________?
Exposure Analogy and Triangle Elements
Aperture
The size of the faucet (versus the water hose or the eyedropper) is your
aperture, the __________________ in the lens that lets in the light.

Exposure Triangle
______________________ aperture = larger lens opening (faucet),

more light gets through.
Narrow/small aperture = smaller lens opening (eye dropper), less

light gets through.
Shutter Speed
How long you leave the faucet on is the shutter speed, the time we
leave the __________________ open to let in light.
Slow shutter speed = shutter remains open (faucet open) a longer

time, more light gets in.
___________________________________ = shutter remains open

(faucet open) a shorter time, less light gets in.
ISO
The size of the glass (small, large) stands for the ISO, the ___________
___________________ (high, low) of the sensor.
_______________ ISO value = higher sensitivity (smaller glass),

needs less light.
Lower ISO level = lower sensitivity (larger glass), needs more light.
Reciprocity
Aperture, shutter speed, ISO are connected: If you change one thing, it
will have an effect on the others. This __________________________
is due to the fact that light always travels at the same speed, 186,000
miles per second. Or to come back to our analogy, the water always
flows at the same speed.
So, if you want to have a perfectly exposed picture and you change
your aperture (such as switching from faucet to eyedropper), you will
have to change the _________________________________________
(the time you leave the water running) to make sure enough light hits
the sensor (or enough water gets in to fully fill your glass) or change
the ISO (the size of your glass).
Depending on the mode your camera is set to, the camera will do this
adjustment for you.
But why would we even bother changing the aperture or shutter speed
if the result is always the same exposed photograph thanks to
reciprocity done by the camera?
The reason is that with aperture and shutter speed you can __________
________________ than simply change the exposure.
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Exposure Triangle
Aperture
Aperture Examples
Example Without Reciprocity
In this example, reciprocity was not applied. The aperture was changed
but shutter speed and _____________ were kept the same.
Figure 3.2: This is the desk photographed with an aperture of f/2.8,
shutter speed of 1.3 seconds (sec.), and ISO 100. Note how this image
is very bright, or overexposed. A low aperture number (f/2.8) in fact
stands for a ________________________________ aperture, meaning
the opening is larger and the image gets brighter.
Figure 3.2: Aperture f/2.8 (no reciprocity)
Figure 3.3: This is the desk photographed with an aperture of f/11,

shutter speed of 1.3 seconds, and ISO 100. Note how this image is well
lit. In this scene a medium aperture value produces a well exposed
image.
Figure 3.3: Aperture f/11 (no reciprocity)

Exposure Triangle

shutter speed of 1.3 seconds (sec.), and ISO 100. Note how this image
is darker. A ________________ aperture number (f/22) stands in fact
for a low/narrow aperture, meaning the hole in the lens is smaller and
the image gets darker.
Figure 3.4: Aperture f/22 (no reciprocity)
Example With Reciprocity

Lets see how the picture changes when reciprocity is applied. In this
example the aperture was changed but the _______________________
______________ adapted accordingly to keep the overall exposure
(brightness of the image) while ISO remained the same.
Figure 3.5: This is the desk photographed with an aperture of f/2.8,
shutter speed of 1/6 seconds (sec.), and ISO 100. Note how this image
is well lit. But what else do you notice? Only a few items around the
little horse are in focus, the rest appears rather ___________________.
Figure 3.5: Aperture f/2.8 (with reciprocity)
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Exposure Triangle

shutter speed of 20 seconds (sec.), a longer time to make up for the high
aperture value which stands for a narrow aperture opening, while ISO
remains 100. Note how this image is well lit. But what else do you
notice? Now everything on the desk is _________________________.
Figure 3.6: Aperture f/32 (with reciprocity)
Aperture in Forensic Photography

The example with reciprocity showed that you can use aperture for
________________ on a specific part/object you see in your
viewfinder. This is closely linked to the concept of ________________
___________________ which we will explain later.
A lower aperture number (f-number) means a greater aperture

opening/wide aperture which allows more light to reach the sensor.
This means that the light passes more _______________________
resulting in a sharp focus only for rays with a certain focal length.
So a wide aperture results in an image that is sharp for things at the
correct distance. You can use it for focusing on something in the
background or foreground (depending where you set your focus to)
and get only that area in focus while the rest becomes blurred.
A higher f-number means a smaller aperture opening/narrow

aperture which allows less light in. As the opening in the lens is
smaller, the light is ____________________________, resulting in
a sharp focus at the image plane. Using a higher aperture number
will result in images that are overall sharp.
But what do aperture values mean?

Aperture Stops
The lens aperture is usually specified as an __________________ (N),
the ratio between the diameter of the aperture in the lens (D), and the
focal length of the lens (f):

Exposure Triangle
f
N ---D
A lens typically has a set of marked aperture stops, called __________
______________, that the aperture can be set to. With each f-stop the
light intensity changes by the factor of 2.
The standard full f-stop scale is:
f/1 - f/1.4 - f/2 - f/2.8 - f/4 - f/________ - f/8 - f/11 - f/16 - f/22 - f/32
Example: If an image was well exposed with a shutter speed of
1 second at f/4.0 and I changed my aperture to f/5.6, it would make the
opening ___________ as small meaning that my shutter speed now has
to be 2 seconds to let the same amount of light hit the sensor as before.
Note: Remember: Higher aperture number means smaller lens
opening.
The aperture/lens opening is usually a set of five to fifteen blades
which form a roughly circular hole and make up the diameter (see
image below). An aperture of f/4 on a 100 mm lens stands for a
diameter of 25 mm whereas it is 50 mm on a 200 mm lens. However, as
the 200 mm lens covers more area than the 100 mm lens and projects a
larger image, the overall exposure remains the same.
The availability of aperture stops may vary depending on the lens you
are using. To know what your lens is capable of, you will find on each
lens the range of f-stops that it offers. Also, some lenses offer
________________________ stops (one-half or one-third stops).
Shutter Speed
Introduction
We said that with aperture and shutter speed you can do more than
simply change the exposure.
Aperture allows you to focus your photograph on a certain area. Lets
find out what you can influence with shutter speed.
In the following examples reciprocity was once applied and once not
applied. The difference in shutter speed is represented by a darker
(faster shutter speed) and brighter (slower shutter speed) image in the
example _________________________________________________.
Pay attention to the example where reciprocity is applied to find out
what else changes when we change the shutter speed while keeping the
same overall exposure level.
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Exposure Triangle
Shutter Speed Examples

Example Without Reciprocity
In this example, reciprocity was not applied. The shutter speed was
changed but aperture and ISO were kept the same.
Figure 3.7: This is the flag photographed with a shutter speed of 3 sec.,
aperture f/32, and ISO 100. Note, how this image is very bright, or
overexposed. A slow shutter speed means the shutter stays open for a
______________________ period of time which allows for more light
to enter and creates a brighter image.
Figure 3.7: Shutter speed 3 sec. (no reciprocity)
Figure 3.8: This is the flag photographed with a shutter speed of 1/50
sec., aperture f/32, and ISO 100. This image seems well lit, especially
when comparing to the other two photographs. Under these light
conditions, the 1/50 sec. shutter speed in combinations with the other
settings seems to produce a well exposed image.
Figure 3.8: Shutter speed 1/50 sec. (no reciprocity)

Exposure Triangle
Figure 3.9: This is the flag photographed with a shutter speed of 1/500
sec., aperture f/32, and ISO 100. Note, how this image is darker than
the other two. A fast shutter speed means the shutter stays open for a
very short time which does not allow much light to enter and creates a
_______________________ image.
Figure 3.9: Shutter speed 1/500 sec. (no reciprocity)
Example With Reciprocity

Lets see how the picture changes when reciprocity is applied. In this
example the shutter speed was changed and the ___________________
adapted accordingly to keep the overall exposure (brightness of the
image) while ISO remained the same.
Figure 3.10: This image was taken with a shutter speed of 1/25 sec.,
aperture f/32, ISO 100. The image is well lit. But what else do you
notice? The flag appears blurry. This is due to the slower shutter speed.
The flag is moving while the shutter is open, resulting in a __________
________________ of the flag while the rest remains in focus.
Figure 3.10: Shutter speed 1/25 sec. (with reciprocity)
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Exposure Triangle
aperture f/22, a lower value (wider opening) than in the 1/25 sec. image
to make up for the faster shutter speed, while ISO remains 100. The
flag appears less blurry. The shutter was open for only half the time
than before. Now the 50 stars in the flag already appear in focus.
Figure 3.11: Shutter speed 1/50 sec. (with reciprocity)
aperture is f/5.6 (wide opening), while ISO remains 100. Notice how
the flag and flagpole appear ________________ now. Also, the rest of
the image (foreground) appears blurry due to the _________________
_________________ that focuses the image on the flag.
Figure 3.12: Shutter speed 1/800 (with reciprocity)
Shutter Speed in Forensic Photography

The example with reciprocity showed how shutter speed allows you to
stop _______________ such as a moving flag, a runner, or a car (using
a very fast shutter speed). On the other hand it also allows you to create
motion such as blurred water in a stream creating a cotton candy effect
(slower shutter speed).

Exposure Triangle
Shutter speed is measured in parts of a second (example 1/10 is one

tenth of a second; 1/200 is two hundreds of a second) or full seconds
(example 2"). A shutter speed of 1/60 is twice as _______________ as
a speed of 1/30, so the light decreases by a factor of 2 from 1/60 to 1/30
to 1/15 to 1/8.
It is important to know that with a slow shutter speed (keeping the
shutter open for longer period of time), you will produce a blurry
image. This is simply due to the fact that you cannot hold the camera
still enough while the shutter is open; this is also called camera shake.
If your shutter speed falls below a certain point, you have to use a
tripod to stabilize your camera.
ISO
Introduction
Changing the ISO changes the sensitivity of the sensor. In the analogy
we previously used, changing the ISO is like changing the __________
of the glass that we want to fill.
Note: ISO (reads i-so) is not an acronym but comes from the
Greek isos, meaning equal. The numbers are standardized and
set by the International Organization for Standardization.
ISO Examples Without Reciprocity
Example Outdoors
Figure 3.13: This is the tank photographed with ISO 100, shutter speed
1/50 sec., and aperture f/5.6. Note, how this image is well lit. ISO 100
seems to offer enough sensitivity for this outdoors scene.
Figure 3.13: ISO 100 outdoors (no reciprocity)
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Exposure Triangle
Figure 3.14: This is the tank photographed with ISO 400, shutter speed
1/50 sec., and aperture f/5.6. This image seems overexposed. The
sensor with ISO 400 is too sensitive so that the same amount of light
creates a _____________________ picture. Or to use our analogy, the
glass was too small and over filled.
Figure 3.14: ISO 400 outdoors (no reciprocity)
Example Indoors
Figure 3.15: This is the storage room photographed with ISO 100,
shutter speed 1/10 sec., and aperture f/4. This image seems
underexposed. The sensor with ISO 100 is
_______________________________ enough. Or to use our analogy,
the glass was too large and did not fill up all the way.
Figure 3.15: ISO 100 indoors (no reciprocity)
Figure 3.16: This is the storage room photographed with ISO 400,
shutter speed 1/10 sec., and aperture f/4. Note how this image is well
lit. ISO 400 seems to offer the correct sensor sensitivity for this indoors
scene.

Exposure Triangle
Figure 3.16: ISO 400 indoors (no reciprocity)
ISO Values
The examples showed that the higher the ISO value, the more sensitive
the sensor becomes, requiring ________________ light.
ISO values are typically: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 with
some cameras even going higher. A sensor with ISO 400 gathers twice
as much light as one with ISO 200.
As a general rule of thumb you should use an ISO 100 for daytime
pictures _______________ (200 if it is a very cloudy day) and an ISO
400 for _______________ pictures.
Note: For long exposure (night scene) use a lower ISO value
and increase the shutter speed. Choosing a higher ISO at slower
shutter speed can create _______________________________,
artifacts, making the image appear grainy.
Exposure Triangle Summary

Main Elements
Now that you have learned the basics about the exposure triangle of
aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, lets summarize. Remember:
The higher the f-stop, the ___________________ the lens opening,

the darker the image. Each f-stop changes the amount of light by a
factor of 2. Also, aperture lets you focus on certain parts of your
image. The higher the f-stop the more in focus the overall scene is;
a lower f-stop lets you focus on certain parts in the scene.
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Exposure Triangle
The ___________________ the shutter speed, the darker the image

and the more in focus moving objects are. The slower the shutter
speed, the brighter the image and the more blurred moving objects
are. Also, with a slow shutter speed you need a tripod to avoid
camera shake.
The higher the ISO the brighter the image. Rule of thumb is to use
an ISO of 100 for outdoors (daytime) and an ISO of 400 for
indoors.
Reciprocity Estimation
When working in the field, calculating an exact reciprocity may not
work. Also, you may use fractional aperture stops on your lens which
will make calculations more complicated.
The more you practice, the better you will get at estimating necessary
settings to keep the exposure correct. Just remember:
If you _______________ the shutter speed, you will have to widen

the aperture (smaller value) to make up for the shorter time, or you
increase the ISO. Vice versa applies if you slow down the shutter
speed.
If you _______________ your aperture (higher value), you will

have to slow down the shutter speed to make up for the smaller lens
opening, or increase the ISO. Vice versa applies for widening the
aperture.
Exposure Decision Based on Scene Light

A good approach is to select the ISO first, depending on whether you
are outdoors or indoors. Then, move on to choose the camera mode.
Do you need to take an overall image of the scene with everything

in focus? Then select a ____________ f-stop in AV/A mode. Do
you need to focus on something in particular, choose a __________
f-stop.
If you have low light conditions, choose TV/S mode with a slower
shutter speed. If you have movement in your scene, select a fast
shutter speed to avoid blurred objects.
In both modes, you have __________ variables controlled, the ISO and
the aperture/shutter speed while your camera only adapts one (shutter
speed/aperture) to achieve reciprocity.
Note: You should always try to control two of the three
exposure parts to make sure enough light hits the sensor and
your image is exposed correctly.

Depth of Field
Manual vs. Automatic ISO

It is recommended to always ___________________ set ISO and to not
use the automatic ISO setting of the camera.
Here is why:
Take the example of a night scene you have to photograph. As you

do not have much light, you choose a slow shutter speed to keep the
lens open as long as possible. To avoid camera shake, your camera
will raise the ISO when it is set to automatic. But as we have seen in
a previous example, this could lead to digital noise. If you control
the ISO yourself, you can combine the slow shutter speed with the
use of a ________________ and avoid camera shake while keeping
the ISO low enough to not produce digital noise.
In the example of bright light and an aperture of f/8, the camera

may suggest a shutter speed of 1/2000 and ISO value of 400 when it
easily could have selected an ISO of 100 along with shutter speed
of 1/500.
Note: The automatic ______________________ of reciprocity
that are done by the camera under the automatic ISO setting
might not always be the best choice. You should select the ISO
manually.
Depth of Field
Introduction
We mentioned Depth of Field (DoF) earlier when talking about
aperture. DoF, also called focus range, is the _____________________
between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear
acceptably sharp in an image.
So DoF describes what is in focus in your photograph. There is only
_____________ focus point in a photo though the decrease in
sharpness may appear gradual on each side of the focused distance.
To demonstrate, take a pen, hold it about 1.5 feet from your face and
focus on the tip of the pen. Now look behind the pen to the background.
The pen is now out of focus. The reality is we can only focus on one
thing at a time. When we move between two objects our brain and eyes
adjust to where it seams seamless.
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Depth of Field
Examples
Deep Depth of Field
This is an example of a deep depth of field (Figure 3.17). The aperture
is f/22, shutter speed 2 sec., ISO 200.
With this aperture the whole image is in focus, the wooden cabinet,
board, and fruit arrangement.
Figure 3.17: Deep depth of field
Shallow DoF Example

This is an example of a shallow depth of field (Figure 3.18). The
aperture is f/4, shutter speed 1/15 sec., ISO 200.
The focus is on the front of the wooden board while the rest of the
image appears slightly ______________. By choosing a different focal
point in the viewfinder, you could use the same aperture but focusing
on the fruit in the background instead.
Figure 3.18: Shallow depth of field

Depth of Field
Deep and Shallow Depth of Field

The example showed:
The higher aperture value, the smaller the hole and the more things
will come into focus due to the gathered light stream. This is also
called a ______________________________________________.
The lower the aperture value, the less things come into focus as the
wide lens opening lets in scattered light, resulting in a sharp focus
only for rays with a certain focal length. This is also called a
_____________________________________________________.
Besides aperture there are two additional factors that affect DoF:
__________________________: A wide angle lens, which is a lens

that has a low number such as 18 mm, has a deep DoF even at low
apertures. A telephoto lens, such at 105 mm or 300 mm, has a
shallow DoF and the background will blur at low apertures.
Subject to camera distance: The _____________________ you are

to the subject, the more shallow the DoF, meaning at low apertures
the background will blur. If you are far away, things will be in focus
even at low aperture.
Depth of Field Use in Forensic Photography

Depth of field allows you to be _____________________ with photos.
By creating a photo that has a shallow depth of field you can focus the
viewer to look at one particular item while the background is blurred.
However, on your mid range shots, in which you want to show
relationship between certain items of evidence in the rest of the scene,
you would want a greater depth of field. We will talk about progression
photographs in the next module.
Note: When shooting macro photography trying to obtain a proper
depth of field can be challenging. Due to the nature of macro
photography you are very close to your subject. This means that even
with increased apertures your field of focus may still only be a couple
of inches.
Note: Remember: Higher aperture value = deep DoF; Lower
aperture value = shallow DoF
SG
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Focus
Focus
Autofocus or Manual Focus
There are certain situations that your camera will want to focus on a
different object than the one that you would like it to focus on. By
nature the camera is looking for texture and contrast to focus on, it also
often focuses on things that are ____________________ to the camera.
To change this, you have two options:
Switch the lens to manual focus and focus the lens manually.
Keep the lens automatic focus but choose a specific ____________

_____________ in the viewfinder.
Autofocus or Manual Focus of Lens

As you learned in module 2, most lenses have the ability to shoot either
in autofocus or manual focus which can be changed via a switch on
your lens. After you switch your lens to manual you will have to turn
the _______________________ on your lens to focus on your subject.
The manual focus of the lens is useful for nighttime pictures. Subjects
in night scenes may be difficult to get in focus. One solution is to turn
your lens to manual focus, illuminate the subject with a flashlight, and
establish focus manually by turning the focus ring on the lens. Then,
turn off the flashlight and take the photograph.
Note: Remember to switch your lens back to automatic focus
when manual focusing is done. If not, subsequent photos of
other subject matter will be out of focus.
Automatic or Manual Focal Points

The second option is to select a specific focal point in the viewfinder
after switching your camera from automatic focal point to
_________________ focal point selection, while your lens is set to
automatic focus.
In your viewfinder there are multiple points that your camera uses to
determine its focus; the amount of focus points is different from camera
to camera.
If your camera is set to automatic focal point selection, it will use all
points to make a determination on what to focus on. When you switch
to manual you can pick which __________ the camera should focus on.

Focus
The following example is about automatic vs. manual focal points, not
the focus switch on your lens.
Note: Check your cameras user manual for detailed
information on how to switch between automatic and manual
focal point selection and how to select specific focal points.
Examples
Automatic Focal Point Selection
This is a picture of a scratch and a scale with automatic focal point
selection. Note how the hand holding the scale is in focus but neither
the scale nor the scratch are. This is because the hand holding the scale
is ______________ to the lens, and the camera automatically focuses
on the nearer object.
Figure 3.19: Automatic focal point selection
Manual Focal Point Selection

This is a picture of the scratch and a scale with manual focal point
selection. Note how the scratch and most of the scale are in focus while
the rest is slightly blurred. This is how the image should look if you had
to take a picture for _______________.
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Rules of Thumb
Figure 3.20: Manual focal point selection
Conclusion
The example showed that with an automatic focal point selection the
camera may focus on the item that is closest to the lens which may not
be what you want the photograph in focus.
Remember: If you have the camera set to a specific focal point and
keep shooting with that focal point, your subsequent pictures will be
out of focus as your _________________________________ changes.
So make sure to select a new and more appropriate focal point or set the
camera back to automatic focal point selection.
Rules of Thumb
1. Higher aperture number = _____________ lens opening, more light
gets through; deep depth of field.
Lower aperture number = narrow lens opening, less light gets
through; narrow depth of field.
2. Slow shutter speed = shutter remains open longer, more light gets
in; blurs ___________________________.
Fast shutter speed = shutter remains open shorter amount of
time, less light gets in; stops moving subjects.
3. For long exposure (night scene) use a lower ISO value and _______
__________ the shutter speed. Choosing a higher ISO for shorter
amount of time can create digital noise, making the image appear
grainy.

Rules of Thumb
4. Always try to control __________ of the three exposure triangle

elements, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. If you have to change
one, adapt at least one other to ensure reciprocity and to reach the
same exposure level.
5. It is generally recommended to use the __________________ focus
on the lens itself. If you do use the manual focus on the lens, make
sure to switch back afterwards.
6. If the camera does not focus on the subject in question, manually
select the ____________________________. Make sure to change
the camera back to automatic focal point selection afterwards or to
update the selected focal point if necessary.
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References
References
Module
Photographic Documentation
Terminal Objective
Upon the successful completion of this module, participants will be able to complete
photographic documentation.
Enabling Objectives
1. Demonstrate correct image composition, consisting of perspective, orientation, and framing
2. Apply the three progressive levels of crime scene photography
3. Review rules of thumb in relation to photographic documentation
SG
4-2
Composition
Composition
Introduction
Many people do not consider composition when taking a photograph.
However, it is what makes the difference between a snapshot and a
___________________________ photograph.
When you compose your photo, just like with depth of field, you direct
your view to what is important in your photo. However, this does not
necessarily mean the object needs to be right in the middle of the photo.
The main concepts for composition are:
Perspective
__________________
Overall Framing
Perspective
Examples
Figure 4.1: This is the print on the car photographed in birds-eye
view, meaning from above. From this perspective the print is slightly
distorted.
Figure 4.1: Birdseye view perspective
Figure 4.2: This is the print on the car photographed

_______________
________________. This produces the best image of the print as it is
taken at the same height.
Composition
Figure 4.2: Standing perspective
Figure 4.3: This is the print on the car photographed while kneeling.
From this perspective the print is not fully visible and _____________
________________.
Figure 4.3: Kneeling perspective
Figure 4.4: This is the print on the car photographed while laying on
the ground, looking up. This is also called __________________
position. From this perspective the print is the least visible and very
distorted.
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Composition
Figure 4.4: Prone perspective
The example images 1 through 4 show that things might look very
different when we change our perspective. To change ones perspective
is one of the most common ways to change composition.
The perspectives used in the example are:
____________________
Standing
Kneeling
Prone/Laying on the floor
Perspective in Forensic Photography

These different perspectives can be beneficial in forensic photography.
The best rule is to get on the ___________________________ with the
subject that you are photographing to bring attention to that subject.
If, for example, you have to photograph a shell casing on the floor, it is
best to lay on the floor with your camera so that the shell casing
becomes the main focus of the photo. That way the background is just
that, a less important part of the photo, but still adds to the story or puts
the casing in context.
Orientation and Framing

After you have decided what perspective to use, it is important to
decide which ___________________ the picture should have and how
exactly you will frame your object in the viewfinder.
Composition
Orientation Example
Figure 4.5: This is the house photographed in landscape, or horizontal.
Landscape shows the house in more detail and without unnecessary
information.
Figure 4.5: Landscape/horizontal orientation
Figure 4.6: This is the house photographed in

_____________________, or vertical. In comparison to the landscape
picture, this image includes a lot of unnecessary information such as
grass and driveway while the house is a lot smaller due to the
orientation.
Figure 4.6: Portrait/vertical orientation
SG
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Composition
Orientation: Landscape vs. Portrait

In the previous example, the landscape orientation produced a better
image. But how to decide when to shoot a landscape/horizontal or a
portrait/vertical photograph?
First consideration: If the ______________________ of the subject

in your viewfinder is more horizontal or vertical, then shoot
appropriately.
Second consideration: Where do you want to direct the _________

_____________________________________? Lets say you want
the viewer to focus on a car door with prints. In landscape mode
you would get the sides left and right to the door which may make
the print too small to actually see. If you take a vertical shot, it will
fill the frame with the door and leave the viewer no other option
than to focus on the door and prints.
Framing Example
Figure 4.7. This is the correct frame. This image shows all the details
of the house without adding too much information to the left, right, top,
or down view.
Figure 4.7: Correct framing example
Framing
When framing your photograph, make sure that what you want to show
is completely visible and not cut off on either side. In addition pay
attention to the following:
Remove unnecessary ___________________ from the background
Any close-up evidence photos should _______________________

_______________________________
Progression Photographs
Light in backgrounds can change the exposure; do not focus on

__________________ lighting sources
Frame via zooming in/out (if you use a zoom lens), and/or stepping
forward/backward
One common question in forensic photography is: What do I need to
photograph?
Most people know that they need to take pictures of the evidence, but it
is more important to understand the ____________________________
in which you need to take photographs.
Remember, with your photographs you are telling a story to someone
who was not there. A common error is to focus only on the area in
which the crime occurred and not on the whole scene.
In forensic photography, you should follow the following progression
when taking pictures:
Overall
Midrange
_________________
Examples
Figure 4.8: This is an _________________ progression photograph. It
shows the general location of the lock and the fence to which it is
attached.
Figure 4.8: Overall progression photograph
SG
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4-8
Figure 4.9: This is a midrange progression photograph. It shows the

relation of the lock to the surrounding fence.
Figure 4.9: Midrange progression photograph
Figure 4.10: This is a close-up progression photograph. It shows the

broken lock _________________________.
Figure 4.10: Close-up progression photograph
Overall Photographs
When first arriving at a scene, you should take overall photographs,
also called ______________________. They should show:
Location, address: If possible document address placards or a sign

that has the address on it. Also, take photos of intersections signs
near the location to show the closest intersecting streets.
General environment of where the scene is located: Pictures of the

scene plus surrounding buildings of the residence, commercial area,
and streets.
Weather conditions
The best approach is to take images in __________________, meaning

you take photographs and slowly pivot in place in either a clockwise or
counter-clockwise direction until you return to your original position.
This ensures image capture of the area around the crime scene and
other objects that may be factors later on in the investigation.
Note: Overall photographs: Take pictures of the scene and all
surroundings in 360 degrees.
After taking overall images, you move on to taking midrange
photographs.
Midrange Photographs
Midrange photographs:
Show the relationship from a ______________________________

________________________ to the rest of the scene
Show the relationship of one piece of evidence to another piece of

evidence
They are also called _______________________ photographs.

An example would be a shell casing on the ground next to a dead body.
If you take a photo of just a shell casing, you do not know where it is
located within the scene. In midrange photos we want to show where
pieces of evidence are in relation to the rest of the scene, in this
example taking a photo of the shell casing and the dead body.
After taking midrange images, you move on to taking close-up
photographs.
Note: Midrange photographs: Show the relationship of a piece
of evidence to overall scene and/or another piece of evidence.
SG
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4 - 10
Close-Up Photographs
Purpose
The purpose of close-up photographs is to identify specific pieces of
____________________ such as a shell casing, blood stain, shoe
impression, or bullet holes.
You should:
Photograph anything that you are going to collect and place in

evidence
Photograph any evidence that cannot be taken but will be needed

for comparison or ______________________________________,
such as toolmarks or blood stains
They are also called ________________________________________

________________ photographs.
When you take a photo of anything that will be used for scientific
measurement or comparison to a real object, you need to make sure you
have a scale in the photo.
Scale Positioning to avoid Distortion
The purpose of a scale in close-up photographs is for size reference; the
ability to print the photo to life size for comparison to a real object; or
to use the scale for _________________________________________.
First, take a photograph without and then one with a scale.
When using a scale make sure that:
The camera lens is positioned __________________ perpendicular

to the subject; this is to avoid distortion.
The scale is on the same ______________________ as the subject;

this ensures the scale and subject are both in focus.
The camera is stabilized to make sure you have the sharpest photo
If the picture is not taken at 90 degrees, the scale will appear

_______________________ and stretched. The measurement marks of
the ruler that are closer to the camera will be closer together while the
ones further away will start getting further apart. This makes the image
unreliable for measurements.
Note: Scale needs to be on same level/plane as the evidence;
camera lens needs to be at 90 degrees perpendicular to the
subject.
Rules of Thumb
Rules of Thumb
1. When it comes to ______________________, get on the same level
with the subject you want to photograph.
2. If the shape of the subject in your viewfinder is more horizontal or
________________________, shoot appropriately.
3. When shooting overall photos, back up far enough from your scene
to ensure you cover the scene and the surrounding areas in your
photos.
4. When taking __________________________________________,
make sure that you take a midrange photo that shows where that
piece of evidence is in relation to the overall scene.
5. Any evidence that will be used for comparison to a real object or
for scientific calculations from measurements needs to have a
_____________________ in the picture.
6. To avoid distortion when using a scale, the camera lens needs to be
at 90 degrees _______________________ to the subject. The scale
needs to be on the same level/plane as the evidence to ensure both
are in focus.
SG
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References
References
Module
Additional Considerations
Terminal Objective
Upon the successful completion of this module, participants will be able to describe additional
considerations for forensic photography.
Enabling Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
Discus the purpose of crime scene documentation and its legal implications
Identify media card and storage issues of digital forensic photography
Discuss image processing in forensic photography
Review rules of thumb in relation to additional considerations for forensic photography
SG
5-2
Crime Scene Documentation

Purpose of Crime Scene Documentation
One of the major focuses of crime scene investigation is
documentation, and __________________________ plays a major role
in that documentation.
The purpose of crime scene documentation is to:
Provide a true and accurate representation, a visual record, of the

crime scene and all its pertinent features as it was when you were
there
Document the scene in its _____________________________ and

____________________________ state
Enable others involved in the case to have a clear understanding of

the crime scene by replicating the location and evidence through
photographs
Be aware that your photographic documentation will be used by:
Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators to explain the facts of the

case
Prosecution and defense to explain their cases at trial
____________________ such as doctors, accident

reconstructionists, and bloodstain pattern experts to explain their
opinions to the events that occurred
Juries to study the scene and to give them the answers they need to
help determine someone's innocence or guilt
Legal Implications
At Court
Due to the importance of crime scene documentation, it is crucial to
take ____________________ photos.
Do not let the fact that the court may only allow a few photos as
evidence restrict you. Take many photos; let them choose what they
would like to use in court versus them needing a photo that you did not
take.
Legal Implications 1: Admissibility in Court
If the right photo is not taken, or it is not taken well enough to relay the
information needed, it will not be able to be used in court.
Courts require that all photos be a true and accurate representation.

They need to be _______________ and more probative than prejudicial
to be allowed.
In order to be admitted as evidence in a ______________, a photograph
must be:
Relevant: Relevant evidence is defined by the Federal Rules of

Evidence (which govern federal trials and have been adopted by a
majority of the states as well) as evidence having any tendency to
make the existence of any fact that is of consequence (...) more
probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.
(_____________. Test for Relevant Evidence)
More Probative than Prejudicial: Rule 402 of the Federal Rules

says that relevant evidence can be excluded if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair evidence. This
provision of the rules is often at issue when prosecutors in criminal
cases want to admit graphic images of the wounds of their victims.
(Rule 402. General ____________________ of Relevant Evidence)
_____________________: The requirement that a photograph be

authenticated means that someone familiar with what the
photograph depicts must testify that the photograph accurately
represents whatever it illustrates. This authenticator can be the
photographer, but it can also be anyone at all, as long as he or she is
familiar with the subject matter of the image. (Rule 901.
Authenticating or Identifying Evidence)
Legal Implications 2: Keeping Evidence

Never delete a photo from your camera after you have taken it.
Due to metadata information on your camera and on every photo that
you have taken, it is easy to see a photo is missing, and you could face
a legal challenge for ____________________ evidence.
The defense may claim the missing photo was a piece of evidence that
could have cleared his client, led to the implication of someone else, or
supported a theory of self-defense.
Quality and Case Preparation

The _____________________ of crime scene photography plays an
important role in gaining a conviction. Simply having the best camera
equipment on the market does not make you a good photographer, nor
does it make you capable of fully documenting a crime scene in a
logical and methodical fashion.
However, knowing the capabilities of your camera and equipment is
paramount in capturing valuable images.
SG
5-3
SG
5-4
Media Cards and Storage Issues
Preparation is key to taking high-quality crime scene photographs:
______________________________ for a crime scene, you should

ensure that your equipment is functional: Batteries are charged,
electronic contacts are clean, all accessories (flashes, tripods, and
filters) are available for use
Once at the crime scene, repeatedly __________ and ___________

camera settings
Common Errors and How to Improve

Some of the common errors in photography include:
_____________________ or blurry images: Caused by poor focus,

camera shake, or slow shutter speed
Under- or overexposure: Incorrect camera settings, failure to

compensate for adverse lighting conditions, or older cameras that
need their light meters calibrated
Streaks or spots of light on the image: Caused by lens flair or light

leakage into the camera
One of the most effective ways to improve your photography skills is to

examine your own work critically. In addition, you can improve your
skills by:
Training and reading photography related books and magazines
Practicing under various _____________________ conditions
Media Cards and Storage Issues

Media Cards
Media cards come in two main types:
Compact flash, or __________
Secure digital, or __________
CF is a bigger square and SD is a smaller rectangle with a clipped

corner.
In the past CF was faster, but now SD cards are just as fast as CF. The
speed is important, because after you take a picture it has to move from
the camera buffer onto the card. The faster your cards speed the
quicker it will ____________________ the image to the card. If it does
not save the image fast enough, you may have to wait before you can
take another photograph.
Image Processing
Storage Considerations
Media cards are meant to be for _________________ storage and after
so many uses, depending on the manufacturer, are expected to fail and
no longer hold data. This is why you should not only store your
photographs via your SD or CF cards but transfer them to another form
of storage.
The most common way is to move them to a hard drive or copy them to
a CD/DVD. Hard drives can be set up to immediately back up to
another drive so that there is a duplicate of anything on the drive. This
is called a _____________________ (redundant arrays of independent
disks).
The problem with storage is that it is unknown how long the image will
last. There are some CDs/DVDs that say they will not degrade and the
data is safe for 100 years. The problem is that CDs have not been
around for 100 years, so the assumption for safe, long-term storage is
only based on calculations.
It is normally a good practice to back up your photos to ____________
____________________ as it becomes available to maintain an
accessible copy.
If you are going to keep evidence on a hard drive, then permissions will
have to be set in place to determine who has the ability to delete photos
from your archives. This option is necessary as records and evidence
can be __________________ and then must be removed by court order.
Image Processing
There are many options for working on your images in post production
using photo processing software.
__________ images are uncompressed and unprocessed images and
must be processed and converted to more common and accessible
formats, such as TIFF and JPEG. As mentioned previously, RAW
images are recommended for any images destined for comparison or
detailed examination.
Some newer cameras have some processing features built into the
camera as well. It is generally advised against using the in camera
features due to the standards for evidence.
Here is why. The following is needed for a photo that has been edited to
be admitted into court:
The original unedited version of the photo
The name of the ____________________ being used
SG
5-5
SG
5-6
Rules of Thumb
A list of instructions on how the software was used to edit the photo
The ____________________
Due to these requirements, making changes in the camera to edit photos

will likely not leave an original unedited photo to submit.
Rules of Thumb
1. Take many photos at the crime scene following the progression of
overall, ____________________, and close-up.
2. __________ delete a photo of a crime scene after you have taken it!
3. The faster the __________ of your media card, the faster the
camera moves the image from the camera buffer onto the card, and
the faster you can take your next photograph.
4. Make sure to store your images in multiple copies on CDs/DVDs or
external hard drives; have image____________________________
__________________________________ in place for purposes of
destruction orders and expungements.
5. If you edit an image, make sure you have the __________________
__________________ version of the photo, the name of the
software used, instructions explaining how the software was used,
and the edited photo.
6. Do not use the internal camera features to edit your pictures unless
you can save the original, unedited version as well.
References
References
Federal Rules of Evidence. 2015. Rule 401. Test for Relevant Evidence.
<https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_401> Accessed 04/10/
2016.
Federal Rules of Evidence. 2015. Rule 402. General Admissibility of
Relevant Evidence. <https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_402>
Accessed 04/10/2016.
Federal Rules of Evidence. 2015. Rule 901. Authenticating or
Identifying Evidence. <https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_901>
Accessed 04/10/2016.
SG
5-7
Appendix
Command Mode and Icons

Handout
SG
A-2
Command Mode and Icons Handout
Appendix
Exposure Triangle Handout
SG
B-2
Exposure Triangle Handout
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FSA116 Foundations of Forensic Photography - Study Guide

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LAW ENFORCEMENT & SECURITY

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)

Foundations of Forensic Photography

TEEX Law Enforcement & Security Training

Forensic Science Academy

Forensic Technician Certificate (80 hours)

Basic Criminal Investigation

Forensic Investigator II (200 hours)

Processing Evidence of Violent Crime

TEEX Law Enforcement & Security Training

Module 1: History of Forensic Photography ......................................................1-1

Module 2: Camera Types and Parts ....................................................................2-1

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

Module 3: General Terms and Concepts ............................................................3-1

Module 4: Photographic Documentation ............................................................4-1

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

Module 5: Additional Considerations .................................................................5-1

Appendix A: Command Mode and Icons Handout ............................................ A-1

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

About this Course

Upon the successful completion of this course, participants will be able

Anyone who processes and photographs crime scenes or will in the

Course delivery consists of eLearning.

To receive a certificate of completion for this course, participants must:

complete a registration form at the beginning of the course;

complete the end of course evaluation; and

successfully complete FSA116.

Upon beginning the course, participants will have 45 days to complete

To receive course credit and a certificate of completion, participants

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

History of Forensic Photography

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

History of Forensic Photography

History of Forensic Photography Timeline

350 BC: Camera Obscura

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

History of Forensic Photography

He used a mirror-like silver-surfaced plate that had been fumed with

1852: The Principle of Fluorescence

1859: Photographs Admissible in Court

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

History of Forensic Photography

1861: First Color Photograph

1867: Crime Scene Photographs

1875: Traffic Accident Photograph in Court

1888: First Roll Film Camera

1890: Bertillon System of Criminal Identification

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

History of Forensic Photography

In 1890, he published his rules for a scientifically exact form of

1894: The 35 mm Motion Picture Film

1925: The 35 mm in Still Photography

1943: Color Photographs in Court

1947: First Instant Camera

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

History of Forensic Photography

1975: First Digital Camera

2000s: Digital Cameras for Consumers

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

History of Forensic Photography

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.

Camera Types and Parts

2016, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All rights reserved.