Forensic Photography

Nick Marsh is the author of Forensic Photography: A Practitioner's Guide, published by Wiley.

• Foreword xiPreface xiiiAcknowledgements xixAbout the Companion Website xxi1 Image Processing 11.1 Introduction 11.2 The digital image 21.3 Image acquisition 31.4 Colour images 41.5 The imaging chain and workflow 51.6 White balance 71.7 Image histogram 81.7.1 Levels and grey-picker tools 81.8 Image processing terminology 121.9 Digital image processing operations 141.9.1 Image cropping 141.9.2 Image resampling (resizing) 151.9.3 Image flipping and rotation 151.9.4 Linear scales 171.10 Classes of operations 191.10.1 Point processing 191.10.2 Addition 191.10.3 Subtraction 191.10.4 Multiplication and division 201.10.5 The bad news: artefacts 221.10.6 The good news: versatility 221.11 Noise reduction 221.12 Sharpening filters 241.13 History log 271.14 Layers 271.14.1 Adjustment layers and layer masks 271.14.2 Composite images 281.15 Bit depth and dynamic range 281.16 File formats 291.17 Image compression 291.18 Image processing at image capture 301.19 Properties of common formats 311.20 Image archiving and the audit trail 321.20.1 Best practice and the audit trail 331.21 Printing images 351.22 Image storage 351.23 Summary 352 Cameras and Lenses 372.1 Overview 372.2 Cameras 402.3 Exposure 432.4 ISOs 452.5 The shutter 462.6 F-stops and apertures 472.7 So what is the correct exposure? 492.8 Metering modes 502.8.1 Measuring the light 502.8.2 Camera meters 512.8.3 Incident light meters 512.9 Getting the right exposure 512.10 Dynamic range 522.11 Depth of field and focus 532.11.1 Lens choice 552.11.2 Distance to the subject 562.11.3 The rule of thirds 562.11.4 Focus 562.11.5 Manual focus 582.12 Lenses 652.12.1 Focal lengths 67Reference 773 The Use of Flash 793.1 How does it work? 793.2 Guide numbers 813.2.1 What is the guide number? 813.3 Flash modes 833.3.1 Manual mode 833.4 The inverse square law (ISL) 903.4.1 The ISL (long version) 903.4.2 The ISL short version 923.4.3 Automatic 923.4.4 Through The Lens metered flash (TTL) 933.4.5 Other settings 943.5 The practical application of flash 953.5.1 Flash only 953.5.2 Open flash 993.5.3 Fill in flash 1053.6 Types of flash 1083.6.1 Hammerhead units 1083.6.2 Ring flash 1083.6.3 Semi ring flashes 1093.6.4 Studio flash 1104 Crime Scene Photography 1134.1 Overview 1134.1.1 What are we being asked to photograph? 1144.1.2 When do I take photographs? 1144.1.3 How will I take the photographs? 1154.2 Personal protective equipment (PPE) 1154.2.1 Stepping plates 1184.3 The generics of scene photography 1194.3.1 Sunshine 1194.3.2 Rain 1214.3.3 Wind 1214.3.4 Fog 1224.3.5 Snow 1224.3.6 Cold 1224.4 Photographic equipment 1234.5 Composition 1244.5.1 Interiors 1304.6 Specific types of scenes 1344.6.1 Motor vehicles 1384.6.2 Assault victims 1454.6.3 Prisoners 1464.6.4 Property 1474.6.5 Fire damaged scenes 1494.6.6 RTC (Road Traffic Collisions) 1514.6.7 Homicides and postmortems (PM) 1524.7 Appendix 1: Trouble-shooting 159References 1625 Light as a Forensic Photographer’s Tool 1635.1 Overview of alternative light sources (ALS) 1635.2 The Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) 1645.3 Fluorescence 1685.4 Alternative light sources 1745.4.1 Ultraviolet (UV) light sources 1745.4.2 LASERs (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) 1775.4.3 Crime-lites 1805.4.4 Tuneable light sources 1815.5 Filters 1835.6 Infrared (IR) 1875.7 White light 1895.7.1 White light types 1895.8 Conclusion 193References 1936 The Photography of Injuries 1956.1 Overview 1956.2 The nature of injuries 1976.2.1 Bruises 1976.2.2 Burns 1986.2.3 Cuts and abrasions 1996.2.4 Bites 1996.3 The photography 2006.4 Before we start 2036.5 Techniques and equipment required 2046.5.1 Camera 2046.5.2 Illumination 2046.5.3 Polarising filters 2066.5.4 Forensic rulers 2076.6 The colour reference 2076.6.1 Cross-polarised photography 2076.7 Reflected Ultraviolet (UV) 2136.8 Lenses 2166.9 Lighting 2166.10 Capturing the image 2186.10.1 Induced fluorescence 2186.10.2 Induced fluorescence for cadavers only 2216.10.3 Infrared (IR) 2226.10.4 Summary 224References 228Further useful reading 2297 Finger and Shoe Mark Photography 2317.1 Overview 2317.2 The nature of finger marks 2327.3 Shoe marks 2367.4 Equipment 2417.5 Lighting techniques 2457.5.1 Copy lighting 2457.5.2 Bright field illumination 2467.5.3 Dark field illumination 2477.5.4 Oblique lighting 2547.5.5 Specular or coaxial illumination 2557.5.6 Photography of specular marks 2597.5.7 Transillumination or backlighting 2617.6 Chemically enhanced marks 2627.6.1 Treated marks on porous surfaces 2637.6.2 Non porous surfaces 2657.7 Latent marks 2697.7.1 Fluorescence 2697.7.2 Painting with light 2757.8 Shoe marks 2787.8.1 Latent dust marks 2787.8.2 Contaminated marks 2797.8.3 Physical shoe mark impressions 2827.8.4 Photography of shoe marks 2827.9 Tyre marks 2847.10 Blood enhancement techniques 2897.10.1 Acid yellow 7 2897.10.2 Acid violet 17 2897.10.3 Amido Black (acid black 1) 2907.10.4 LCV 2917.10.5 Huffing and dead sets 292References 2958 The Proactive Use of Light in Forensic Photography 2978.1 Overview 2978.2 The detection of body fluids using an alternative light source 2978.3 Inks 3018.4 Sign writing 3058.5 The detection of blood 3078.6 Luminol 3098.7 Other uses of Infrared (IR) 3138.7.1 Vein patterns 3148.7.2 Clothing 317References 3229 Specialist Equipment and Techniques 3259.1 Peripheral cameras 3259.2 Object modelling 3329.3 Multi-spectral imaging camera 3359.4 High speed imaging 3409.5 UVC photography 346References 35410 Panoramic (Immersive or 360 ◦) and Elevated imaging 35510.1 Overview 35510.2 Spheron 35710.3 Digital Single Lens Reflex 360 ◦ 35810.4 Elevated imaging 367Reference 373Appendix 1 Tripods and Camera Supports 375A. 1 Tripods 375A. 2 Scene tripods 375A.2. 1 The 058 Triaut Tripod 376A.2. 2 Manfrotto 055 fitted with the Manfrotto 322RCE head 377A.2. 3 Benbo 377A.2. 4 Studio type stands 377A. 3 Other types of camera platforms 377A.3. 1 Gorilla pods 377A.3. 2 Monopods 378A. 4 Video tripods 379A. 5 Other types of clamps 379Index 383

“An ideal and comprehensive textbook on the subject, "Forensic Photography: A Practitioner's Guide" is especially recommended for academic library Photography and Forensic Science reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.”  (Midwest Book Reviews, 1 March 2015)