Prelims Module On Forensic 1
Prelims Module On Forensic 1
FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
MODULE ON FORENSIC 1
Welcome to the new normal class!
COURSE OVERVIEW
Course Code: Forensic 1
Course Description: Forensic Photography
No. of Units: 3 units
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course deals with the study on the history of photography,
technical photography and forensic photography. The evolution of Photography include the
pioneers of photography, their contributions, special events and features. Technical
photography consists of the study of the behavior of light various types of camera, special
features, variable types of camera lenses, filters and uses, different types of films and
photographic paper. Police photography shall also cover the study of the Advance Photo
System and its application in police work.
As one of the criminalistics being widely used in the field of police, this course will give you the
knowledge of how does the different specialties contribute to the success of an investigation
and how these scientific methods give way to the identification of a person related to a crime.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course, you should be able to:
1. Trace the development of Photography:
2. Cite the significance of photography in the fields of law enforcement and criminal
investigation;
3. Explain key terminologies technically used in the field of photography
4. Differentiate the basic parts of a camera and their basic function
5. Formulate the concepts and kinds of light, lenses and film, the uses and purposes
of filters, expose guides and the different characteristics of films and photographic
papers;
6. Discuss the principle involved in the camera and the eye
7. Discuss fully the systematic procedure of crime scene photography; and
8. Demonstrate the basic process of developing, printing and enlarging the film and
photographs to be used in court presentation.
1. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
It will always pave way for the manifestation of initiative for lifelong learning
as you students become responsible members of the family, workplace and
society. As the different courses tackle about technicalities, theories and
logics, it will also bring out your inner self on handling different problems that
may arise whether personal or within the line of your future work.
2. PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCE
One of the main reasons why this institution mandates you to learn our
offered programs and courses is that it is a platform for you to exercise your
profession competently in the near future. You can also generate new
knowledge contributory to national development based on the technical
competence you acquire along your study. As you improve your personal
development, you are also able to increase your chances of being a
successful professional.
3. COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION
No man is an island. In the nature of your work you will soon have in the
future, you should be able to express yourselves effectively using various
modes of communication in meeting your goal or objectives. You learn from
others and they learn from you. It is a give and take relationship that is why
you have to be at your best when communicating. It requires you and your
workmates someday the just communication and collaboration to work as a
team. You collaborate in a sense that you are looking for changes and
development. As what they said, work in a spirit of collaboration and a
teamwork makes a goal oriented success.
4. CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING
Being able to think outside the box is a great step of becoming a successful
person, in terms of personal or even professional growth. There are certain
situations where you have to be at the crowd and encounter different
personalities of people and different situations which requires you to think
thoroughly. It requires you a lot of considerations and manifestations beyond
the given knowledge to be able to analyze and provide solutions to discipline-
related problems. You are able to come up with different solutions from
different problems. In addition, in critical and unexpected situations, making
sound decisions as a professional will make a good or even better outcome.
5. GLOBAL AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Being able to participate outside the four corners of the classroom is a
privilege. Not just that you acquire knowledge from the classroom but you are
also given the opportunity to engage yourself to a fun learning environment. It
will open your eyes to the different situations that will trigger you to become
aware as early as now and as well as develop your critical thinking.
Participating on various community/industry also activates relevancy to the
field of specialization in addressing global and local concerns as well as
being aware of these will be a great help in you as a person but also as a
professional.
6. SOCIAL AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY
Not just being competent on the technical aspects of the course but also
being able to hold personal values and beliefs consistent with the institution’s
core values. There are certain things you have to bear in mind as you age
and learn. You have to make it to a point that you are not in the mediocrity of
your work but at the same time you have to uphold the social norms within
the society as soon as you uphold your responsibilities in work. Let it be a
consideration that while you have a responsibility on your work, you also
have a responsibility to maintain social and ethical values.
7. EMPOWERED LEADERS
Actively participate in professional/civic organization and engage in various
activities to promote empowered leaders. We make sure that we produce
leaders of the society, a leader on their chosen field of work, a leader to the
community and a leader for the development and betterment of all.
COURSE GUIDE:
Elaborate:
Quick Check:
(Rearrange the
jumbled words)
Activity 1- Table Form
DEADLINE: August
26- before 9pm)
Sept Synchronous Class
1 Significance of Photography and Type of Subject Brightness
Sept Asynchronous Class Explore:
2 Activities will be posted at exactly 8:00 am. Quick Check (Search).
Read and understand
the handouts.
Elaborate: Activity 1-
Chart Creation
DEADLINE:
September 2- before 9
pm
Elaborate:
Activity 3- Chart Creation
DEADLINE:
September 9- before
9pm
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Introduction: Forensic photography is a widely used scientific method that aids in
criminal investigation. We will be tackling here the some definition of terms and
technicalities you will encounter on this course. This will give you the background of
what how and why we study police photography
Objectives: At the end of this module, you should be able to:
Define basic terminologies related to photography.
Give importance to the significant people who contributed to the success of
photography.
Give the significance of light to photography basing it on subject brightness.
Give importance to the use of forensic photography in criminal investigation.
LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION
A. DEFINITION OF TERMS:
1. Photography = Derived from the Greek word “Phos” or “Photos” which
means “light” and “Grapho” means “Writing” or “Graphia” meaning “to
Draw”. Sir John F. W. Herschel coined the word photography when he first
wrote a letter to Henry Fox Talbot.
= Is the art and science of reproducing image by means of light through
some sensitized material with the aid of a camera, Lens and its accessories and
the chemical process required in order to produced a photograph.
2. Forensic = Derived from the Latin word “Forum” which means “a market
place” where people gathered for public discussion.
= When used in conjunction with other science it connotes a relationship to
the administration of justice. It is sometimes used interchangeably with the word
legal.
1. Acetic Acid- a rarely mild acid used in highly, diluted from, as the rinse bath which
follows the developer in the normal film and paper developing processes.
2. Angle of view- the portion of the scene that is covered through a camera lens.
3. Aperture- the opening in a diaphragm of lens through which light passes, expressed
as a fraction of the focal length.
4. Autofocus- The camera focuses automatically on the subject in the center of the
viewfinder when you press the shutter release.
5. Available Light- the light condition which the photographer finds existing at the
subject position.
6. Back Light- Illumination from a source beyond the subject, as seen from the camera
position which tends to silhouette the subject.
7. Copy- to reproduce via photography
8. Coverage- the area of the image (formed by a lens) which is of useful quantity.
9. Cropping- printing only part of the image that is in the negative or slide
10. Daylight - sunlight or skylight or any mixture of the two.
11. Developer- Chemical Solution used to convert a latent image to a visible image
12. Distortion- an aberration of the lens which is characterized by variable magnification
of the image area and will cause straight lines near the edges of the subject field.
13. Enlarger- consists of a light source, negative holder and a lens and the means of
adjusting these to project an enlarged image from a negative onto a sheet of
photographic paper
14. Exposure- the quantity of light allowed to act on photographic material
15. Flash- a brief intense burst of light from a flashbulb or an electric flash unit, usually
used where the lightning on the scene is inadequate for picture taking.
16. Focusing- the adjustment of the lens to film distance to produce sharp image of the
subject
17. Negative- photographic image in which the amount of silver present is more or less
based on reflectivity from the original subject
18. Format- Size, Shape, and general makeup of negatives, slides, photographic prints,
camera viewing areas or video equipment
19. Frame- an individual picture on a roll of film or one full onscreen image of displayed
computerized information
20. Illumination- a specific amount of light present in any given area.
21. Image- The photographic representation of an object or scene formed by optical or
chemical action.
22. Multiple Flashes- The use of more than one flash unit, usually operating
simultaneously.
23. Natural Size- A photograph enlarged to the true size of the content
QUICK CHECK: Arrange the following scrambled words. Some are
two words there.
A. Htoocimphpyrago: ______________________
B. Lioptcerniang: ________________________
C. Nsehoalprtibelnlio: ___________________________
D. Hootpphrag: ________________________________
E. Asflh: ____________________
F. Xrospuee: _________________
G. Genavite: ____________________
H. Who coined the term Photography? ___________________________
I. Igame: _________________________
J. Mortaf:_____________________
C. ESSENTIALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Light = is an electromagnetic energy that travels in a form of a wave with the
speed of 186, 000 miles per second.
2. Camera = a light tight box designed to block unwanted or unnecessary light
from reaching the sensitized material.
3. Lens = is the light gathering mechanism of the camera that collect the
reflected light coming from the object to form the image.
4. Sensitized material = composed of a highly sensitized chemical compound
which is capable of being transformed into an image through the action of
light and with some chemical processes. ( Film and Photo Paper).
5. Chemical Process = is the process necessary for reducing silver halides into
a form so as a latent image and a positive image be made resulting to what
we called Photograph.
END OF LESSON 1
B. USES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Personal Identification
= Personal Identification is considered to be the first application of
photography is police work. Alphonse Bertillion was the first police who utilized
photography in police work as a supplementary identification in his Anthropometry
system.
2. For Communication
= Photograph is considered to be one of the most universal methods of
communication considering that no other language can be known universally than
photograph.
3. For Record Purposes
= Considered to be the utmost used of photography in police work.
4. For Preservation
= Crime scene and other physical evidence requires photograph for
preservation purposes. Crime scene cannot be retain as is for a long period of time
but through photograph the initial condition of the scene of the crime can be
preserved properly.
5. For Discovering and Proving
= Photography can extend human vision in discovering and proving things
such as:
a. The use of Magnification
Photomicrography = Taking a magnified photograph of small object
through attaching a camera to the ocular of a compound microscope so as to
show a minute details of the physical evidence.
Photomacrogaphy = Taking a magnified (enlarged) photograph of
small object by attaching an extended tube lens (macro lens) to the camera.
Microphotography = is the process of reducing into a small strips of
film a scenario. It is first used in filmmaking.
Macrophotography = used synonymously with photomacrogaphy.
Telephotography = Is the process of taking photograph of a far object
with the aid of a long focus and Telephoto lens.
7. Crime Prevention
= with the used of video camera (hidden camera) and other advanced
photographic equipment crimes are being detected more easily and even to the
extent of preventing them from initially occurring.
8. Police Training
= Modern facilities are now being used as instructional material not only in
police training as well as in other agencies.
9. Reproducing and Copying
= With the use of photography any number of reproduction of the evidence
can be made those giving unlimited opportunity for its examination and even allow
other experts or person to examine the specimen without compromising the original.
TYPES OF SUBJECT BRIGHTNESS
1. Dark Subject: only reflects about 9% of the light striking it and absorbs the
remainder.
ex: Vehicles and weapons, people in dark toned clothing and others
2. Average Subject: is one that reflects approximately 18% of the light striking it and
absorbs the remainder.
ex: people in medium colored clothing, most buildings, street scenes and interior views
Quick Check: Take a picture of each type of subject brightness and label
each. Give its definition. You can use any gadget as long as the photograph will be
clear. Do it in MSword.
Format: Letter size, Arial 12, Single Spacing.
ACTIVITY 2: Using any chart, look for a word that is related in photography
and connect it with the uses of photography and in each uses explain it to why it is
connected to that word. Use your own words. Do it in a short bond paper
Example: VERSATILE-
PHOTOGRAPHY (it means that it
has many purpose and uses)
REMEMBER: There are many uses mentioned in the lesson, so incorporate each one
of it.
END OF LESSON 2
LESSON 3: LIGHT
LIGHT: ITS NATURE, CHARACTERISTICS, SOURCES AND CLASSIFICATION
Light is defined as an electromagnetic energy with the speed of 186,000 miles
per second. Its wave travel is said to be characterized in certain extent based on
velocity, wavelength and frequency of the number of vibration of the wave per second.
Light wavelength is the distance measured between two (2) successive crest or
through of wave and it is expressed in either Millimicron (nanometer) or Angstrom.
Millimicron is the units of light wavelength which is equivalent to one-millionth part of a
millimeter which the Angstrom is relatively smaller for it has an equivalent
measurement of ten (10) millionth part of a millimeter.
Once light hits a certain medium, its action can be characterized as either:
Reflected, Transmitted or Absorbed (RAT). Reflected once the light hits a mirror and
it bounce back. Transmitted when the light hits a transparent glass which would allow
the light to pass through its medium and Absorbed when the light hits a dark colored
object and prevents it from either bouncing or passing through.
Isaac Newton in 1666 proved that the light which men see as white light is
actually a mixture of all colors of the spectrum. This is produced when we allow light to
hit a glass prism (Sharp Edge of the Glass). A rainbow array will then be shown with
colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet colors (from top to bottom). The visible
light is also said of have a wavelength of between 400-700 millimicron or nanometer.
Direction of light-You move your flash or you either choose the time of the day to best
illuminate your subject.
• FRONT LIGHTING- strikes the surface of the subject straight on
• SIDE LIGHTING- the light source skims across the surface of the subject facing
the lens which emphasizes the texture, color and shape
• BACKLIGHTING- light coming behind a subject- especially in very bright subjects
Front Lighting Side Lighting
Back Lighting
1. Types of Light
Lights can largely be classified into visible and invisible light.
a. Visible Light
= Is the type of light that produces different sensation when reach the
human eye. It is the type of light, which is capable of exciting the retina of
the human eye.
b. Invisible Light
= lights in which their wavelength are either too short or too long to excite
the retina of the human eye i.e. X-ray, Ultrat-violet and Infra-red lights.
2. Photographic Rays
a. X-ray
=Light with the wavelength between .01 to 30 millimicrons. It is produced by
passing an electric current through a special type of vacuum tube. It was
incidentally discovered by Conrad Welhelm Roentgen. This type of light works in
the principle of shadow photography.
c. Visible Light
= It refers to the type of radiation having a wavelength of 400 to 700 millimicrons
designed for ordinary photographing purposes.
d. Infra-red (Beyond the Red)
= Considered as the photographic rays with the longest wavelength ranging from
700 to 1000 millimicrons. It is designed to take photograph of over-written
documents, obliterated writing, and charred documents or for black out photography.
It is sometimes referred to as heat rays).
Light Source
A. Natural Light= are those light which come to existence without the
intervention of man e.i. Sunlight, moonlight and starlight.
Daylight may still be classified as: open space bright sunlight, under
shade bright sunlight, hazy sunlight, cloudy sunlight and cloudy dull sunlight.
These conditions and their colors affect the appearance of the object
being photograph. Factors such as atmospheric vapor, atmospheric dust and
quality of the reflected light coming and not coming from the source should
likewise be considered.
B. Artificial Light = otherwise known as man-made light e.g. fluorescent bulb, incandescent bulb
and photoflood lamp.
• COOL LIGHT- blue tones on color films such as sunrise, one a very overcast
days or in the shade of building.
THREE TYPES OF NATURAL LIGHT: SUNLIGHT as a chief source of natural light
Quick Check: Differentiate from each other the bright, the hazy and the
dull sunlight. Copy each of the picture shown below and label it with definition of each.
Paste it on another MS word.
For those who can’t access online, look for any picture on magazines, book, etc. that
can portray what is a bright, hazy and dull sunlight. Cut it out and paste it on a bond
paper then label it. (I will provide you the definition of the three types of sunlight in
relation to photography, contact me through my number)
THEORIES OF LIGHT
1. The WAVE Theory (Huygens)
= It is the theory that was transcribed from the motion of the water that if we
observe a piece of log floating in the ocean and with the force of the air would
naturally will make the log move up and down.
2. Corpuscular theory (Newton)
= this later opposed the wave theory stating that light has its effect by the motion
of very small particles such as electrons.
3. Modified Wave theory (Maxwell and hertz)
= Based on electromagnetics.
All these theories are still considered to be of little lacking that law
enforcement need not to be very focus on this but rather go along with the
accepted conclusion that light is a form of energy, which is electromagnetic in
form.
Electronic Flash = produces light by an instantaneous electrical in charges between
two electrodes in a gas filled glass bulbs. The electrical energy for the discharge is kept
in capacitor or condenser. It usually ranges from 1/300 second and 1/5000 second, and
because of this, subject in fast motion can be arrested or stopped in the photographs.
Activity 3: In a flow chart (choose what chart you prefer), make a diagram
of the lesson about light to show the relationship of each. Focus on Visible and
Invisible Light. Do this in a yellow paper.
_____________________________________________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS! You have reached this far. This is the end of Module 1
References: