{"id":4736,"date":"2016-05-12T12:49:01","date_gmt":"2016-05-12T15:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/?p=4736"},"modified":"2016-05-12T12:49:01","modified_gmt":"2016-05-12T15:49:01","slug":"what-is-forensic-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/12\/what-is-forensic-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"What is forensic photography?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forensic photography documents<\/em><\/strong> the physical appearance of a scene soon after a crime, accident or failure occurs then\u00a0presents<\/em><\/strong> this information to the justice system, and\u00a0does this objectively<\/em><\/strong>. (Ref. 1)\u00a0 These are the main goals.<\/p>\n

The forensic\u00a0engineer also uses the photographs\u00a0to study the scene again later in his role explaining the technical issues and the cause of the incident to the justice system.\u00a0 Others also learn about the scene from the photographs.\u00a0 It\u00a0is an exacting speciality like all the technologies involved in forensic work.<\/p>\n

Police crime scene identification unit<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was reminded of this when I toured the Halifax Regional Police Crime Scene Identification Unit recently.\u00a0 David Webber, the forensic photographer with the unit, showed me around.\u00a0 I had met David earlier at a social function hosted by the police department for the Victim Services Unit.<\/p>\n

There are 13 people in the identification unit specializing in a number of technologies. \u00a0“Lifting” and analysing finger prints from surfaces and trace fluids from clothing are two\u00a0the public is familiar with.\u00a0 David does the photography.\u00a0 We had\u00a0a difficult time getting together because he was being called out to one murder scene after\u00a0another over a period of a week or more.<\/p>\n

I didn’t get\u00a0out to a crime scene but did see how David presents his photographs in a book for use by the justice system.\u00a0 There is nothing in his\u00a0presentation or the captions – just a\u00a0single number, to sway what the\u00a0justice system and others might see in the photographs.<\/p>\n

In civil litigation, the photographs\u00a0could be of a scene\u00a0where a personal injury accident or an engineering failure occurred, or\u00a0where an incident was\u00a0re-enacted by a forensic engineer.<\/p>\n

Almost all photographs are taken\u00a0at or near ground level – what we call terrestrial<\/em> photographs in engineering.\u00a0 But you are certain in future to see low level, oblique aerial<\/em> photographs taken with cameras fitted to drones.\u00a0 I use this technique now.\u00a0 The police Identification Unit are looking at using it.<\/p>\n

Uses of photographs in court<\/strong><\/p>\n

Photographs can be used in court\u00a0for illustrative <\/em><\/strong>purposes, if admitted by the judge, to: (Refs 1, 2)<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Support, corroborate and explain the evidence of witnesses,<\/li>\n
  2. Supply relevant detail in the appearance of objects described in oral testimony,<\/li>\n
  3. Reveal steps taken by witnesses to arrive at their opinions, and,<\/li>\n
  4. Affect the credibility attached to a witness’ testimony. (Ref. 3)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    A witness\u00a0uses photographs to illustrate what\u00a0was seen and done\u00a0during the forensic investigation and the evidence that was collected.<\/p>\n

    A photograph can also be used\u00a0as a silent witness<\/strong><\/em>, if admitted, as,<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Substantive visual evidence.\u00a0 The photograph\u00a0is\u00a0allowed to\u00a0“speak for itself”.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      There is no witness, the photograph stands alone, a silent witness.<\/p>\n

      Allowing photographs into court<\/strong><\/p>\n

      A judge will allow photographs to be tendered as exhibits and admitted as evidence in a Canadian court if the following test is met: (Ref. 4)<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Photographs must be relevant, that is, material to an issue at trial,<\/li>\n
      2. Also, accurate in truly representing the facts,<\/li>\n
      3. Fair and absent of any intention to mislead,<\/li>\n
      4. Verifiable on oath by a person capable to do so,<\/li>\n
      5. And if their probative value exceeds their prejudicial effect.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Put another, less comprehensive way, photographs for the court must be: (Ref. 1)<\/p>\n