Topic: Photographing the Crime Scene to the immediate locality in which the crime
took place, but also to adjacent areas where
Learning Outcomes:
important acts took place immediately before
Enumerate and explain the three methods of or after the crime was committed.
documenting a crime scene.
Photographs of the broad area of the crime
scene should be supplemented by closer shots
of sections containing important detail. Each
Concept Digest area or object should be photographed so that
it can be located readily in the overall pictures,
which will enable the viewer to gain a clear
A crime scene can be defined as a location at concept of its position with reference to other
which an offense was committed and where the objects at the scene.
potential evidence of what crime may exist. This
may include a home, automobile or a remote
location in the woods.
There are three most common methods of Ranges of Photographs
documenting a crime scene, namely note General View or Long-Range
taking, sketching and photography. A detailed
record of the crime scene and of the actions General view or long-range photographs of the
taken during the search can help the overall scene are fundamentally taken to
investigator to accurately recall events and to portray the areas as if a person viewing the
identify items of evidence later in court of law. scene is seeing it from the standing position. To
obtain this result, the photographer takes the
photograph with the camera level.
Photographing the Crime Scene
The purpose of crime scene photographs is to
give a documented record of the scene as it is
observed. The photographers should begin
taking photographs of the scene as soon as
possible upon arriving on the area. This will
assure that the scene is depicted as it is
observed in its original uninterrupted state.
Nothing should be touched, moved, or initiated
into the scene until it has been thoroughly
photographed and documented.
The goal is to record useful information in a
series of photographs which will enable the
viewer to understand where and how the crime
was committed. The crime scene not only refers
Medium View or Mid-range
Medium view or mid-range photographs are
taken in a manner which portrays the scene
from approximately ten to twenty feet of
distance from the subject matter. In order that
the viewer be permitted to associate the crime
scene with separate areas of the scene
photographed, these areas should contain
sufficient detail to permit the viewer this
association.
Methods of Photographing the Crime Scene
There are two general methods of
photographing the crime scene.
Overlapping Method
A photographic method of taking a series of
photographs in a circular or clockwise direction,
overlapping each other slightly to show the
entire crime scene. If a single photograph
cannot show the entire crime scene, apply this
Close-up View/Range method.
Close-up range photographs are normally taken Progressive Method
approximately five feet or less from the subject
matter. The attention of close- up photography A photographic method taking crime scene
is directed to objects which could not effectively photographs starting from the fix point,
be seen in the long-range and mid-range photographing each piece of evidence from
photographs. Take necessary extreme close-up general to specific as the photographer moves
shot of the subject to show the extent of toward it, and progressively getting closer.
damage.
Sequential Photographs of the Crime Scene
Each crime has individual features that
should be photographed. Keep in mind
the nature of the offense and try to
show those features that establish the
elements if the offense. The following
photographs should be taken.
1. Views of the exterior of the building
/vehicle, with relation to other
buildings/vehicles, roads, streets, etc.
2. Point of entry, outside and inside.
3. Point of exit, outside and inside.
4. Condition(s) of the crime scene.
5. Area from which valuable articles were
removed.
6. Articles left at the scene.
7. Trace evidence, such as hairs, fibers,
and cigarette butts.
8. Tool marks and impressions of shoes or
tire tracks.
9. Fingerprints and footprints, as well as
articles on which these prints may be
found.
10. Specific situations and instances to be
photographed in the crime scene is
discussed in further detail in the next
chapter.b
