QUEST REVIEW CENTER
1550 Espana Blvd. Cor. Lacson Ave., Sampaloc, Manila
NOTES ON CRIMINALISTICS
POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY
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.
3. Police Photography = Is the application of the principles of photography is relation to the police work and in the
administration of justice.
4. Photograph = Is the mechanical and chemical result of Photography. Picture and photograph are not the same
for a picture is a generic term is refers to all kinds of formed image while a photograph is an image that can only
be a product of photography.
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.
Different Views in photographing
a. General View
= taking an over-all view of the scene of the crime. It shows direction and location of the crime
scene.
b. Medium View
= Is the taking of the photograph of the scene of the crime by dividing it into section. This view will
best view the nature of the crime.
c. Close-up View
= Is the taking of individual photograph of the evidence at the scene of the crime. It is design to show
the details of the crime.
d. Extreme Close-up View
= Commonly designed in laboratory photographing using some magnification such as
Photomacrography and photomicrography.
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.
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.
D. 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.
E. LIGHT: ITS NATURE, CHARACTERISTICS, SOURCES AND CLASSIFICATION
Light is defined as an electromagnetic energy with the speed of 186,00 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.
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
1550 Espana Blvd. Cor. Lacson Ave., Sampaloc, Manila
NOTES ON CRIMINALISTICS
POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY
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.
3. Police Photography = Is the application of the principles of photography is relation to the police work and in the
administration of justice.
4. Photograph = Is the mechanical and chemical result of Photography. Picture and photograph are not the same
for a picture is a generic term is refers to all kinds of formed image while a photograph is an image that can only
be a product of photography.
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.
Different Views in photographing
a. General View
= taking an over-all view of the scene of the crime. It shows direction and location of the crime
scene.
b. Medium View
= Is the taking of the photograph of the scene of the crime by dividing it into section. This view will
best view the nature of the crime.
c. Close-up View
= Is the taking of individual photograph of the evidence at the scene of the crime. It is design to show
the details of the crime.
d. Extreme Close-up View
= Commonly designed in laboratory photographing using some magnification such as
Photomacrography and photomicrography.
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.
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.
D. 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.
E. LIGHT: ITS NATURE, CHARACTERISTICS, SOURCES AND CLASSIFICATION
Light is defined as an electromagnetic energy with the speed of 186,00 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.
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
