Definition of terms

1. Definition of terms • Photography • The art and science of reproducing image means of light through some sensitized material with the aid of camera, lens and accessories and the chemical process required in order to produce a photograph • Forensic • Derived from the latin word “forum” which means “a market place” where people gathered for public discussion • When used in conjunction with other sciences it connotes a relationship to the administration of justice. It is sometimes used interchangeably with the word legal.

2. Police Photography • The application of the principles of photography in relation to the police work and in the administration of justice • Photograph • The mechanical and chemical result of photography • Picture and photograph are not the same. Picture is a generic term which refers to all kinds of formed image while photoraph is an image that can only be a product of photography

3. Use of Photography • Personal Identification • Considered to be the first application of photoraphy in police work • Alphonse Bertillion was the first police to utilize photography in police work as a supplementary identification in the anthropometry system • Communication • Photograph is considered to be one of the most universal methods of communication considering that no other language can be known universally than photography

4. For Record Purposes • Considered to be the utmost use of photography in police work. Examples: • General View • Taking an over all view of the scene of the crime • Shows the direction and location of the crime scene • Medium View • Taking of photograph of the scene of the crime by dividing it into section • Best view of the nature of the crime • Close-Up View • Taking of individual photograph of the evidence at the scene of the crime • Designed to show the details of the crime • Extreme Close-Up View • Commonly designed in laboratory photographing using magnification

5. For Preservation • Crime scene and other physical evidence requires photograph for preservation purposes • Crime scene cannot be retained as is for a long period of time but through photograph the initial condition of the scene of the crime can be preserved properly

6. For Discovering and Proving • Photography can extend human vision in discovering and proving such as: • 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 minute details of physical evidence • Photomacrography/ Macrophotography • Taking a magnified (enlarged) photoraph of small object by attaching an extended tube lens (macro lens) to the camera • Microphotography • Process of reducing into small strips of film a scenario • First used in film making • Telephotography • Taking of a photograph of a far away object with telephoto lens

7. Use of artificial light such as x-ray, ultra-violet, infra-red rays to show something shich may not be visible to the human eye • For Court Exhibits • Almost all evidence presented in court before formally be accepted requires that they satisfy the basic requirements for admissability which is relevancy and competency. • Evidence presented and accepted in court is referred to as evidence • Exhibit 1, 2, 3 – Defense • Exhibit A, B, C – Prosecution • Crime Prevention • With use of video camera (hidden camera) and other advance phtographic equipment are being detected more easily and prevent it from occuring

8. Police Training • Modern facilities are now being used as instructional material • Reproducing and Copying • Any number of reproduction of the evidence can be made giving unlimited opportunity for its examination and allow experts or other person to examine specimen without compromising the original

9. Essentials of Photography • Light • Camera • Lens • Sensitized Material • Chemical Process