Photographs

Crime scene photography is a vital tool in criminal investigations, providing a visual record of the scene and preserving crucial evidence. In this exercise, you will practice photographing a scene using the materials listed below.

Objectives

Identify evidence to photograph at a crime scene

Capture high-quality crime scene photographs using a personal smartphone

Learn different photographic techniques for documenting a crime scene

Materials

Personal smartphone with camera

Measuring tape*

Objects to create a mock crime scene (e.g., fake blood, props, overturned furniture)

Procedures

1. Set up the Mock Crime Scene: Choose an area of your home to set up a mock crime scene. Arrange the objects in the room to simulate that a crime has occurred. Consider including various elements like overturned furniture, scattered items, and fake blood stains to represent different aspects of a crime scene.

2. Observe the Crime Scene: Carefully examine the crime scene, taking mental note of the layout, objects present, and any potential evidence.

3. Ensure Proper Lighting: Ensure adequate lighting in the room to capture clear and detailed photographs. Use natural light if available and supplement with artificial lighting if necessary.

4. Adjust Camera Settings: Familiarize yourself with the camera settings on your smartphone. Adjust the settings to optimize image quality.

5. Overall Perspective: Capture a series of photographs of the overall crime scene from a distance, providing a broad view of the layout and context. The photos should be taken from different angles or positions. Ensure that the photos are taken in a systematic way, such as left to right, or right to left. This helps keep the photos organized.

6. Mid-Range Perspective: Take mid-range photographs of specific areas of interest, such as the location of the victim, evidence items, or points of damage. The photos should be taken from different angles or positions. Ensure that the photos are taken in a systematic way, such as left to right, or right to left. This helps keep the photos organized.

7. Close-Up Perspective: Capture close-up photographs of individual evidence items, using a measuring tape for reference to indicate size. The photos should be taken from different angles or positions. Ensure that the photos are taken in a systematic way, such as left to right, or right to left. This helps keep the photos organized.

Notes

Avoid Contamination: Be mindful of not touching or altering the crime scene or evidence items while taking photographs.

Maintain Objectivity: Capture the scene as it is, without introducing personal interpretations or opinions.

For this exercise, you may use a ruler in place of a measuring tape.