Practical Forensic Digital Imaging: Applications and Techniques

Description

Well-documented scenes can prove to be invaluable pieces of evidence at trial, and the ability to take compelling photographs is a critical skill for forensic scientists and investigators. Practical Forensic Digital Imaging: Applications and Techniques is an up-to-date and thorough treatment of digital imaging in the forensic sciences. Balancing practical considerations with scientific and standards-based requirements, the book’s clear, concise presentation illustrates the essentials of digital imaging required by professionals in the field. Enhanced with crisp color photos, the book covers a host of critical topics, including:

• The fundamentals of photographing crime scenes
• The history of photography and the transition to digital imaging
• Digital camera hardware and photographic techniques
• Light, filters, and macro/micro imaging
• Lay, professional, and expert witnesses, and the implications of Frye and Daubert
• Enhancement of images and digital panoramic camera scanning
• Storage of digital media
• Ultraviolet and infrared imaging
• Digital photo imaging microscopes

Covering the full range of scenarios that forensic professionals encounter, the author includes special sections dedicated to photography involving footwear and tire impressions, vehicles, death and morgue scenes, and taphonomic and entomological imaging, as well as fingerprints, burglaries, fire and arson, sex offenses, blood, and trace evidence and microscopy. The techniques in this volume enable photographers to capture the images that will not only tell the story, but will also stand up in court.

Features

• Contains more than 500 color illustrations
• Presents theory as well as practical applications and techniques used in technical photography
• Describes lighting methods used for crime scenes and laboratories
• Demonstrates photography techniques for a range of crime scenarios
• Includes recommendations from the SWGIT (Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technology
• Exercises and test bank with questions and answers are available with qualifying course adoption

Reviews

I can honestly say that this is not just another forensic sciences book! Patrick’s diverse background, his experiences in the field and the classroom have been translated into a work that not only gets the essential information into the hands of the reader, it does so in a way that readers will find refreshing and intuitive. The book and its sections balance practical considerations with scientific and standards based requirements. The coverage of the topics in each section are clear and concise, and the breadth of coverage of the book is inclusive of what one needs to know about the fundamentals of digital imaging, as it relates to forensics.
—Dr. Marcus K. Rogers, Professor/University Faculty Scholar, Fellow of CERIAS, Director - Cyber Forensics Program, Purdue University, from the Foreword

Table of Contents

• Documentation
• Digital Imaging
• Forensic Digital Imaging
• The Transition from 35-mm Film to Digital Imaging
• Introduction
• 4 × 5 Sheet Film Cameras
• The 120 Roll Film Cameras
• The 35-mm SLR
• Other Camera Types
• The Snapshot Camera
• The Polaroid Camera
• The Disposable or Single-Use Camera
• Film
• Proper Evidentiary Handling and Storage of Film
• Digital Camera Hardware
• The Digital Point-and-Shoot Camera
• The Digital Camera Body
• The Menu
• Image Numbering
• The Lenses
• Aperture
• Focusing the SLR Camera
• Aperture Preview
• Shutter
• Exposure
• Remote Shutter Release
• Resolution
• ASA, DIN, and ISO
• Hyperfocal Distance
• Digital Imaging
• Introduction
• Money
• Protection
• Cases
• Camera Strap
• The Ultraviolet Filter
• The Camera
• Flash or Strobe
• Automatic versus Manual
• Settings
• Shutter
• Slave
• The "Normal" Lens
• The Telephoto Lens
• The Wide-Angle Lens
• The Macro Lens
• Lighting with the Macro Lens
• Using the Flash on Your Camera
• The On-and-Off Switch
• Turn the Camera Upside Down
• List Photo Images
• The 90-Degree Rule
• Perspective Images
• The Scale
• Exculpatory Evidence
• Extreme Conditions
• 18% Gray Card
• Light
• Introduction
• Ambient Light
• Color Temperature
• Color Rendering Index
• Flash/Strobe
• Direct Flash
• Indirect Flash
• Fill Light
• Subtractive Light
• Additive Light
• Ambient or Available Light
• Painting with Light
• Ring Light
• Diffusing Your On-Camera Flash with Tissue
• Other Lighting Equipment
• Snoot
• Barn Doors
• Umbrella
• Filters
• Introduction
• Polarizing Filter
• Band-Pass and Band-Block Filters
• Filter Factors
• Color-Compensating Filters
• Kodak Light-Balancing Filters
• Conversion Filters for Color Films
• Stacking Filters
• Neutral-Density Filters
• Infrared and Ultraviolet Filters
• Macro/Micro Imaging
• Introduction
• Photo Image Evidence at Degrees to the Object
• Bench Imaging
• Backgrounds
• Handguns
• The Scale
• Studio in a Box
• The Light Box
• Rope Caulk
• Helping Hands
• The Tripod
• Law
• The Lay Witness
• The Professional Witness
• The Expert Witness
• The Nature of Law
• Miranda Warnings
• Types of Witnesses
• The Lay Witness
• The Professional Witness
• The Expert Witness
• Qualifying an Expert Witness
• General
• Practice
• Certification
• Membership in Forensic Organizations
• Studies and Continuing Education
• Teaching of Forensic Science
• Lectures
• Publications
• Research
• Court Experience
• Reports
• Changes
• Daubert
• Frye
• Enhancement of Images
• Introduction
• Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technology
• History
• The Mission Statement of SWGIT
• Admissibility of Digital Images
• "Doctored" Images
• Cover Letter, Richard W. Vorder Bruegge Former SWGIT Chair
• Photo Image Enhancement Log
• Photoshop
• ACDSee Pro
• Enhancing a Latent Fingerprint
• Latent Lift
• Bare Footprint Developed with Ninhydrin
• Footwear and Tire Impressions
• Introduction
• Casting
• Equipment
• Footwear
• Tire Impressions
• Digital Panoramic Camera Scanning
• Scene Scanning
• The System
• Photogrammetry
• The Scene
• Panorama Imaging: Ultraviolet/Infrared
• Surveillance
• Preventive Measures
• Death Investigation
• Introduction
• The Coroner or Medical Examiner
• Official Photos of the Scene
• The Scene
• Overall or Establishing Photos
• Perspective Photos
• Unexpected Objects and Evidence
• Types of Images Taken during a Death Investigation
• Cases
• Morgue Photo Imaging
• Introduction
• At the Scene
• Universal Precautions
• At the Morgue
• Sequencing
• Lighting
• The Body
• ID Photo Image
• Scales
• Hands
• Wounds
• Lividity
• Scars, Marks, and Tattoos
• Fingerprints
• Clothing
• Taphonomic and Entomological Imaging
• Introduction
• The Scene
• The Body
• Insects
• Maggot Mass and Maggot Migration
• Containers
• Vehicles
• Water Recovery
• Bones
• The Autopsy
• Auto Process
• Introduction
• Exterior
• Interior
• Compartments and Hidey-Holes
• Trunk and Engine
• Fingerprints
• Latent Prints
• General Rules
• Fingerprints on Glass
• Fingerprints on Curved Glass
• Feathers
• Prints on Pills and Capsules
• Prints on Stainless Steel
• Prints on Toilet Seats
• Burglary
• Introduction
• Exterior
• Interior
• Alarm
• Locks
• Items of Interest
• Storage of Digital Media
• The Media
• Storage
• Fire and Arson Scene
• Introduction
• The Scene
• Lighting
• Flash
• Marking Areas
• Point of Origin
• Artifacts
• Crowd
• Digital Imaging
• Sex Offenses
• Introduction
• Dispatch
• The Scene
• Victim at the Morgue
• Victim at the Hospital
• Meeting the Victim
• Photo Imaging the Victim
• Injuries
• Bruising
• Clothing
• Children
• Trace Evidence and Microscopy
• Introduction
• Images through a Microscope
• Microscope Camera
• The Nikon Microphot
• Modification
• Blood
• Introduction
• Luminol
• Blowback: Blood in Gun Barrel
• Ultraviolet and Infrared Imaging
• Introduction
• UV Light Sources
• Body Fluids
• Insects
• Tattoos
• Infrared Light
• Fuji IS Pro UVIR Camera
• Filters for Use with the Fuji IS Pro Camera
• Other Considerations
• Digital Photo Imaging Microscope
• VHX-1000 and Forensic Inspection
• Handheld Integration
• Lenses
• Multiangle Stand
• High-Resolution Imaging
• High Dynamic Range
• Documentation and Measurement Tools
• 3D Composition and Measurement
• SWGIT
• Introduction
• Disclaimer

• Bibliography
• Appendix A: Glossary
• Appendix B: Photo I.D. Card
• Index

Author

Patrick Jones is the Forensic Science Laboratory director at Purdue University. In addition to managing two laboratories, he teaches Crime Scene Investigation, Introduction to Forensic Science, Criminalistics Lab, and Advanced Criminalistics Lab. Mr. Jones has more than 34 years of experience in law enforcement, forensics investigation, security, and training. As a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), he has worked on the John Wayne Gacy case, the Larry Eyler case (both serial killers) and the Ed Ling case among many others. He lectures and presents these cases for students and interested groups. Patrick Jones is also currently a White County Indiana Deputy Coroner and is an Indiana State Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator.