Clandestine photography
Also known as surveillance photography.
WHAT IS CLANDESTINE
PHOTOGRAPHY?
Clandestine photography, commonly
referred to as surveillance
photography, is the photographing in
secrecy of a person, object, activity
or location.
WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?
There are many reasons for
clandestine photography:
documenting criminal activity,
accumulating identification
photographs of criminals and terrorists
and their associates,
gathering intelligence for military
purposes,
documenting fraudulent insurance
disability claims, and
filming an unfaithful spouse.
WHAT’S NEEDED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL
CLANDESTINE PHOTOGRAPHER?
Successful clandestine photography
Subjects of surveillance must be requires a degree of photographic
unaware that photography is occurring proficiency to ensure the recording of
or has taken place. relevant, usable pictures, and
expertise in the clandestine arts.
Tactical skill is needed to
surreptitiously locate a camera where
it won’t be easily detected but where
relevant photographs can be taken.
Such skills also facilitate leaving the
area without detection after taking
pictures and without leaving behind
evidence of the surveillance
operation.
A skilled clandestine
photographer is committed to
recording usable images under
diverse field conditions. He or
she may need to do things that
other photographers would
never do. Some methods may
appear absurd – for example,
the simultaneous use of a tele-
extender and a focal-reducer
or deliberately under-exposing
by several stops. If a technique
works, permitting the
photographer to capture an
otherwise unattainable image,
the clandestine photographer
will use it regardless of how
unorthodox it is. The professional
clandestine photographer must
be innovative. Not content with The extreme magnification required for ultra-
long-range night vision photography and
the existing state of things he or
she is always alert for improved videography makes a night vision finder scope
a desirable accessory.
methods. When seeking a
solution to complex problems
and challenges, the clandestine
photographer thinks beyond
tradition - thinking outside the
box.
Clandestine photography is
incredibly challenging. The
clandestine photographer often
works under field conditions that
can be so unfavorable that
other photographers would
hesitate to attempt it. He or she
must sometimes take pictures
from long distances under
adverse lighting and weather
conditions, traversing and
occupying inhospitable terrain,
and perhaps working in a
dangerous, active counter-
surveillance environment.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A TOP
PHOTOGRAPHER.
Some people are dedicated
photographers, while for others a camera
is just a tool of their trade. For
example, wedding or sport photographer
s chose photography as a career, and
image quality is uppermost in their minds.
Conversely, a United States Navy SEAL is
not a well-qualified photographer per se
even though he or she may use a camera
during special reconnaissance. Similarly, a
police detective assigned to a
surveillance team is a detective foremost,
not a photographer, even though he or
she may regularly use cameras during
physical surveillance. For the Navy SEAL
and the police detective, photography is
merely one of the many tradecraft tools
they use.
THE SUBJECT DETERMINES THE PLACE AND
TIME FOR PHOTOGRAPHY
Since clandestine photography clearly
does not involve the cooperation of the
subject, the photographer must go to
where the subject may be found
engaged in the activity that is meant to
be photographed, and at times when
that activity is likely to be taking place.
The location could be a dark alley, a
building, a remote location in the
countryside or a busy market – just about
anywhere. And the time could be just
about any hour of the night or day.
Circumstances may require taking
pictures from both extreme and short
distances. On one occasion,
photography of a subject from more than
half a mile away may be required. At
another time, filming the same subject
from a distance of only a few feet in a bar
or restaurant may be necessary.
Because people function during all hours
of the day, the ability to photograph
under all levels of illumination is required.
Although the nighttime
environmentpresents special challenges
for the clandestine photographer, the
challenges are mostly manageable. In
some instances, the surveillance specialist
can photograph a subject using
high ISO and available light. In other
instances, photographing with an image
intensifier night vision device may be
called for.
WORKING IN SECRECY IS ESSENTIAL.
The subject of the surveillance (and any
other persons) must be unaware that
surveillance photography is occurring or
has taken place. When secretly taking
pictures, the photographer must either be
hidden from view or working behind the
veil of a pretext.
You cannot choose the time or
place for the photography
of subjects of
clandestine surveillance.
When using a pretext, people will see
that photography is occurring but
shouldn’t know that it is a clandestine
operation. They should believe the
pictures are being taken for an
unrelated reason. For example, the
surveillance specialist photographing
a subject on the far side of a lake
could pretend to be a bird
photographer. Surveillance team
members, if any, could wear shirts with
a club name embossed on them, and
a worn copy of a birding book could
be placed on the ground under the
tripod which supports a camera
adapted high magnification Schmidt-
Cassegrain telescope, ideally suited
to clandestine work. A used book will
support the pretext better than a new
one.
WHAT IS A USABLE CLANDESTINE
PHOTOGRAPH?
Obviously, the sharper and more
Image quality need not be as high as a
properly-exposed an image is, the
portrait. It must, however, be sufficient to
better it is. But, high image quality is
identify the subject.
not a prime requisite for clandestine
photography. A usable clandestine
image is one that contains useful
information. Whether the image is
esthetically pleasing is irrelevant. A
level of image quality that would
render a wildlife photograph
unacceptable may be suitable for a
surveillance photograph.
EQUIPMENT
Camera - A dSLR camera that
can be controlled manually
and that is capable of
recording RAW images. When
shooting to RAW, it is surprising
the extent to which you
can underexpose to achieve a
sufficiently fast shutter
speed and still have
salvageable and thus usable
images. (Camera illustration
from Clandestine
Photography by Raymond
Siljander and Lance Juusola.
Reproduced by permission of
Charles C Thomas, Publisher,
Ltd., Springfield, IL, USA 2012.)
Lens - Because surveillance
photography involves long-
distance work,
often extremely long-distances,
a powerful telephoto lens is
essential, one that can capture
an acceptable image of a
subject a very long way off.
Super telephoto lenses in the
range of 400 mm and larger,
can be useful.
The longer the lens, the greater
protection you will have from
detection. Photographers think
that a 600 mm lens is powerful,
and indeed it is. But a
clandestine photographer will
work with focal lengths in the
thousands of millimeters. For
example, a highly useful lens
for surveillance from a great
distance is the 3048 mm
12” Meade LX90GPS Schmidt-
Cassegrain telescope, an
instrument not normally
associated with general
photography. With a 1.4x tele-
converter, this telescope’s
effective focal length is 4267
mm. With afocal coupling,
permitting photography
through the eyepiece of a
telescope, an effective focal
length exceeding 5000 mm is
achieved. The camera’s lens
helps to increase the effective
focal length of the telescope.
Tripod - And not just any tripod,
but one that is extremely sturdy
and capable of supporting
heavy equipment. A matte-
black tripod is more discreet
than one that is lighter in color
and shiny.
Remote controller - Optional,
but recommended - The
clandestine photographer
using an extreme telephoto
lens must manually select
shutter speed and aperture
settings for proper exposure. It
matters not whether the
photographer operates the
camera by touching it or by
using a wired or wireless
remote controller. A remote
controller helps to avoid
camera shake that is likely to
occur because of the high
magnification involved.
Miscellaneous items - This is a
hard category for which to
provide examples since the
things you may need will vary
from assignment to
assignmment. Rain gear and
camouflage are just two
examples. You will have to
expand on this list when
planning surveillance sessions.
BASIC ADVICE TO GET YOU STARTED
Know your camera well enough to operate it by feel in the dark.
Organize miscellaneous tools and equipment much as would do in the
darkroom so that you can locate and use them by feel.
Take steps to darken any reflective or bright components of your camera
and gear. This includes the face of the lens.
Become familiar with how your camera functions under various day and
night conditions with emphasis on working with available light (no flash) and
telephoto lenses.
Become a student of physical surveillance. You must learn about effective
concealment, avoiding detection, selecting an appropriate vantage point,
“escape” routes, covert techniques, awareness of your surroundings, weather-
proofing when needed, learning about your subject (habits, background,
known hangouts, schedule, usual attire and so on). The subject is complex and
there is a good deal to learn about a broad number of topics.
Be inventive. Think outside the box. If you wonder if an unorthodox method
will work, try it without concern for what the skeptics may think or say. Skeptics
stifle rather than encourage progress. The great American investor Thomas Alva
Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found ten-thousand ways that won’t
work.” In many respects, knowing what doesn’t work can be as valuable as
knowing what does work.
