COURSE DESCRIPTION

Surveys fundamental photographic skills--exposure, composition, film, filters, darkroom materials and procedures. Emphasizes use of photography for law enforcement purposes and for courtroom presentation. Considers current status and trends in photographic law. Lecture 3 hours per week.
 
 

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE:

ADJ 173: The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an introduction crime scene photography tools and approaches, with the ultimate goal of providing a useful and admissible array of photographs for courtroom presentation.

ADJ 174: The purpose of this course is to provide the photography student with advanced techniques, including digital photography, used in photographing crime scenes and victims with the ultimate goal of providing a useful and admissible array of photographs for courtroom presentation.
 
 

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES:

Prerequisite for ADJ 173 is basic understanding of criminal investigations through experience or ADJ 236. Prerequisite for 174 is basic understanding of photography, or successful completion of ADJ 173.
 
 

COURSE OBJECTIVES/EDUCATIONAL OUTCOME:

ADJ 173:

• To gain practical knowledge of a 35m camera for crime scene applications
• To gain photographic perspective for evidence for courtroom presentation
• To understand the fundamentals of a photographic log
• To introduce the student to other photographic tools used at a crime scene

• To gain practical advanced applications of 35mm and digital cameras to crime scenes
• To gain perspectives of varied angles and enhanced lighting and filter applications, especially in filming forensic evidence enhanced with fluorescent/luminescent powders and/or dyes as well as chemical applications.
• To gain familiarity with varied lenses and their effectiveness in filming varied sized evidential specimens

MAJOR TOPICS TO BE INCLUDED:

ADJ 173: F stop, ASAs, shutter speeds, black and white versus color film photography, darkroom basics for developing color and black and white films (prints & slides), basic videography, various lenses and their advantages/disadvantages, Polaroid camera capabilities and use at crime scenes.

ADJ 174: Digital photography: strengths and weaknesses in courtroom presentations; Lens types and applications to crime scenes; enhanced lighting and use of various filters with powder or chemically enhanced evidence; photography of specific incidents in crime scenes such as but not limited to traffic accidents, homicides, burglaries, and their related evidential specimens.
 
 

EXTRA TOPICS – MAY BE INCLUDED:

Related photographic techniques and tools at the discretion of the instructor.

Photography and surveillance techniques at the discretion of the instructor.