Photography and Digital Imaging in Law Enforcement
Photography and Digital Imaging in Law
Enforcement
by Kevin Mello
In today's society, the emphasis on physical evidence in
the courtroom is greater than ever. Quite often, a conviction can be made
entirely on the basis of the photographs taken at the crime scene. As the demand
for physical evidence increases, so does the need for well-documented
photographs. With this in mind, Kevin Mello has updated his booklet, Photography
and Digital Imaging in Law Enforcement, to help you get the best possible
pictures from both SLR and digital cameras.
Mr. Mello begins by explaining the principles of light and
the differences between how we see colors and how the camera "sees"
colors. He then moves on to topics focusing on film speed, shutter speed,
aperture settings, depth of field and flash photography. The basics of using an
electronic flash and the descriptions of the six basic types of lighting used in
forensic photography are discussed as well.
The author devotes an entire section to digital cameras --
how they work, which type of file format is best for saving pictures, how to
achieve a good exposure and how to use a fill flash to accent specific details.
And if you are considering the purchase of a digital camera, Mr. Mello describes
those features that will be particularly useful to law enforcement. He also
explains why protecting the legitimacy of the digital images once they have been
taken is not that different from traditional methods.
Regardless of the type of camera you decide to use,
certain photos should always be taken at a crime scene. Mr. Mello not only
tells you what photos should be taken, but in what order to take them. He also
includes an appendix which lists the unique, individual features of different
types of crime scenes that should be documented.
Photography and Digital Imaging in Law Enforcement
contains the following chapters:
- General Photographic Considerations
- Digital Technology
- Shooting a Crime Scene
- Photographing Injuries
- Night Photography
Kevin Mello has been a law enforcement officer since 1982.
In 1985 he became a crime scene deputy with the Pinellas County (Florida)
Sheriff's Office and worked with advanced forms of scene and evidence
photography. Deputy Mello has taught Forensic Photography for the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Division of the International
Association of Identification, the Criminalistics Program at St. Petersburg
Junior College and IPTM.
Specifications: 30 pages, 8-1/2”x11”, coil bound;
illustrated with 8 color and 33 black and white photographs;
Publisher: IPTM (January 2002)
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