Republic of the Philippines

State Universities and Colleges

Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College
AJUY CAMPUS
Ajuy, Iloilo
“Your College, Your Future”
Telefax: (033) 3231-536 E-mail Address:[email protected]

MODULE V in (FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY)

INSTRUCTION

This module serves as interactive tool in exploring

the nature of FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY. During this time of pandemic, the
education of student should not be set aside rather be put in spotlight. That
is why material is consist of precise examples, brief lectures, activities and
exercises that will the learning of this course .

O BJECTIVES

At the end of exploring the module, the students

should be able to:

A. Understand the Photographing Process

B. Understand the Printmaking Process

COMPILED BY: FERDINAND V. BEUP, PhD. Crim. Prepared by:

Jarold kinsman B. Alagos, RC
Dean of Criminology
Instructor
 CHAPTER X
PHOTOGRAPHING

In modern photography, recording of objects that produces a photograph is no longer a

problem. The creation of several models of cameras which include the automated camera the
difficulties on how photographing is made is no longer difficult.

There are automatic cameras that can control the exposure system, with fixed focus lens and
the latest development are cameras that can control the focusing system of the lens by the camera
itself. Hence, everything in the camera operation today is almost automated.

The introduction of automatic film processor makes the film development process easier and
also with the automatic printer, the making process is no longer a problem. With the existence of these
modern equipments, it seems that the preparation of photograph is easier and will no longer
encounter any difficulties that will affect the recording or photographing of objects. To a skillful user of
these modern equipments, it is probably true, but to some who is not familiar to these modern
equipments, the preparation of photographs is not an easy task.

PHOTOGRAPHING PROCESS

Photographing of objects or scene is not only looking on the eyepiece of the camera and
pressing its shutter release button. Every factor that will affect the naturalness or accurateness of the
things to be photographed must be considered.

These factors may be petty, if neglected will produce bad or undesirable photographs. To avoid
these factors, the following techniques can be helpful in the photographing process.

1. Be familiar with the camera - every camera has its own characteristics, although the function of it is
the same with other cameras, the operation of it may be different from the other types of camera.

2. Selection of good and right lens - in photographing, proper lens must be used. The quality of the
camera lens will affect the accurateness of the objects to be photographed. The size of image is also
affected by the camera lens.

Choosing the corrected camera lens and knowing the right focal length of the camera will
eliminate the factors that may affect the naturalness and accurateness of the photograph to be made.

3. Dirty lenses - even if a good and right camera lens is used, it may still produces a bad photographs if
the lens is dirty during the photographing and print making process. This dirt may be present on the
front surface of the lens as well as the back. The usual dirt that are observable along the surface of the
lens are dust, moist, and sometimes prints of the finger due to incidental touching of the lens.

The camera lens must be free from any dirt before using so that the naturalness of the objects
being photographed will not be affected.

4. Camera hold - during the photographing, the camera must not move especially during the pressing
of the shutter release button. There are two techniques in holding a camera, the horizontal holding
position and the vertical holding position. Very common, the vertical position of holding the camera is
used in photographing of a single object. This position will eliminate other objects along the side of the
object being photographed.

Before pressing the shutter release button of the camera, the photographer must firmly hold
the camera; otherwise, the camera movement will affect the recorded image of the object. If a longer
exposure is necessary on the photographing process, the use of camera support or tripod is necessary.

5. Load the camera - the important things to do in the preparation of photograph is the placing of film
inside the camera. Basically, nothing will be recorded if the camera has no film during the
photographing process. Fidelity must be observed in placing the roll of film inside the camera.

6. Setting the camera for the daylight photographing - camera are classified according to three types.
They are:

a. Simple cameras - usually, this type of camera has no adjustment. It has a fixed focus lens, fixed lens
aperture, and fixed shutter speed. However, this type of camera must not be used in photographing of
objects below the required range; otherwise, the photograph produced will be blurred.

Certainly, the easiest camera to operate is the simple camera. It can be used in outdoor
photography or indoor photography without any difficulties. The only requirement in using this type of
camera is to hold it firmly and press the shutter release button slowly to avoid camera movement
during the photographing.

b. Automatic cameras - this type of cameras makes the photographing more interesting. It has an
automatic control system.

In photographing, the exposure control system determines the amount of light reflected from
the objects being photographed and automatically set the necessary exposure. The thing to be done
when using this type of camera is to set the speed of the film being used. The film speed or ASA rating
is commonly listed on the film box or instruction sheet.

Previously, some automatic cameras have a fixed focus lens. It is set by the maker of the
camera for normal photographing at a certain distance, usually from three feet to infinity. Other
automatic cameras have focusing mechanism which requires proper adjustment of the range of object
to the camera.

The latest automatic cameras have automatic focusing control. Its focusing control set
automatically the distance of the object to the camera during the photographing process. With this
type of cameras, everything in photography is almost automatic. However, in using this type of
cameras, incidental movement of the camera must be avoided; otherwise, the recorded image will
appear blurred.

c. Adjustable cameras - all adjustable cameras have only three basic settings or controls. They are: 1)
focus, 2) shutter speed and 3) lens opening.

These controls must be set properly before photographing an object. Incorrect adjustments of these
controls will basically affect the result of the photographs.

Usually, the shutter speed and the lens opening work together. The common system of
determining the correct exposure in photographing is the use of a light meter. Using the light meter as
the basis of exposure, both lens opening and shutter speed can easily be adjusted before
photographing an object.

When all of these controls been adjusted, the camera is ready to shoot. Again, the camera
movement must be avoided. Hold on your breath for a while, hold firmly the camera and press the
shutter release button gently.

7. Setting the camera for flashes photographing - the best result in photographing of objects can be
attained if the objects are properly illuminated. There are conditions that warrant the use of flash unit
during the photographing, especially, when there is an adverse lighting condition. At present there are
three types of flash units. They are the following:

a. Flash cubes - it makes the photographing of objects easier than ever. It is plug unto a camera that
has a flash cube socket and the camera is ready for four flashes photographing without touching a flash
bulb.

Each cube contains four blue flash bulbs. All cameras with flash cube socket of flash cube
adapter can use this type of flash unit. Every time the film is winded, the flash cube rotate and ready to
give light.

b. Electronic flash - this type of flash unit is fairly expensive compared with the other type of flashes,
but has certain advantages. This electronic flashtube can give thousands of flashes that augment the
necessary lighting of the objects being photographed.
 The light coming from the flashtube is much shorter than that of the flash bulb. This short
duration allows the use of any shutter speed with leaf-type shutter. The electronic flash can stop the
fast actions of the subjects to be photographed.

c. Flash bulb - it can be clear or blue in color. Usually, blue flash bulb is suitable for black and white or
color photography. Every flash of this type of unit the bulb is busted.

Usually, in a flash bulb or a flash gun is needed and attached to the camera. In some cameras
flash bulbs fit into built in flash unit.

Proper exposure with simple and automatic cameras during the photographing with a flash
unit can be attained by keeping a certain flash distance between the object and the camera.

For adjustable cameras, the correct exposure in photographing with flash unit is determined
by its guide number. This guide number is divided from the distance of the flash to the subject and the
quotient is the lens opening to be used for that particular distance. Usually, the guide number is
printed on the instruction sheet of flash bulb or electronic flash unit.

Basically, the flash synchronization must jive with the shutter speed of the camera during the
photographing process. Otherwise, it will produce underexposed photograph or no photograph at all.
The common shutter speed in flash photographing is 1/25 or 1/30 of a second.

The flash unit must be inserted to its proper socket. In electronic flash, the socket is generally
marked with X and for flash bulb; it is mark with M. Incorrect use of the sign of the camera during the
photographing will produce no photograph at all because the shutter speed did not synchronize with
the flashes of light.

In photographing with flash, light reflections must be avoided. Glass or shiny surfaces can
bounce back the light coming from the flash unit. If the flash holder or flash gun is at 45 degrees angle
during the photographing, the reflection of lights coming from the flash can be minimized if not totally
avoided.

CHAPTER XI
PRINTMAKING PROCESS

Printmaking process is the final stage in making photographs. Basically, printmaking repeats
the first stages of photography, that is, the action of light on the film which records the image of the
object photographed which produces a negative.

In printmaking, the image on the negative is transferred to the photographic paper by the
action of light with the aid of a printer known as the photo enlarger. If no such device is utilized, the
image of the negative is transferred to the photographic paper directly through the contact process
known as the contact printing.

SELECTING THE NEGATIVE FOR PRINTING

There are several factors to be considered in the selection of the negative for printing. The
most important among these factors is the sharpness of the image recorded in the negative.

With the aid of a negative viewer and magnifying lens, all parts of the negative can be
examined to check whether the image on the negative is sharp or blurred. Basically, if during
photographing, the camera is not focused to the object or there is movement on the camera or
subject, the blurring of the image recorded on the negative is possible.

Another factor to be considered in the selection of the negative for printmaking is the density
and contrast. In giving consideration to these factors, the type of photographic paper suitable for its
density and contrast can be ascertained. Density can be controlled by the length of exposure and
contrast can be controlled by using the appropriate grade of photographic paper.

After the selection of the negative, it is cleaned with a soft tissue and loaded to the negative carrier of
the photo enlarger for projection printing.

THE PHOTO ENLARGER OR PROJECTOR

Generally, the machine used in making an enlargement is the photo enlarger and in some
instances, the projector is also utilized. Basically, the operation of this machine is the same because of
its capability to project the image of the negative that produces the enlargement or blow-up
photograph.

Like a camera, the photo enlarger parts are manipulated and controlled so as to produce a
good positive print or photograph. The controls of enlarger parts are simple and easy. However, the
system of controlling the control mechanism depends upon the model of the photo enlarger.

The size of the projected image can be adjusted through the manipulation of elevating knob of
the enlarger. Its size will depend on the height of the machine, if the enlarger head is high, the image
is large and if it is low, the image is small. Therefore, the distance of the negative to the base or easel
board is regulated by sliding up or down the enlarger head that contains the negative.

Practically, the image projected on the base is blurred or out of focus. To the image, the
focusing mechanism of the enlarger is adjusted by moving slowly the focusing ring in clockwise or
counter clockwise direction until the image becomes sharp or clear.
 The diaphragm opening of the enlarger can control the brightness of the image of the negative
projected on the base board of the enlarger. It also controls the rays of light will affect the
photographic paper.

Aside from the diaphragm opening that controls the rays of light the duration of allowing the
light to strike the photographic paper is also controlled to avoid over or underexposed photograph.

Almost all of the enlargers available today have the following common parts and functions:

1. Enlarger head - the main working part of the enlarger. It contains the light source, the condenser
lens, the negative carrier and the lens.

2. Lamp - this supplies the light that passes through the negative that exposed the photographic paper.

3. Condenser lens - this lens spreads the light coming from the lamp of the enlarger. It is usually made
of two convex lenses and in some instances; it is made of a flat piece of diffusing glass.

4. Negative carrier - it holds the negative flat and level fitted between the light housing assembly and
the lens of the enlarger.

5. Lens aperture - the opening of the lens that controls the rays of light passing through it.

6. Lens - the one responsible in forming the image coming from the negative. Basically, it bends the
rays of light that passes through it and forms the enlarged images.

7. Focusing mechanism - it moves the lens up and down to focus the projected images.

8. Enlarger column - the holder of the enlarger head and commonly serves as a rail in controlling the
height of the enlarger head.

9. Elevating control knob - this part controls the image size projected on the base. Through raising or
lowering the enlarger head, the image becomes bigger or smaller.

10. Base board - practically, it supports the entire unit of the enlarger. Usually, it holds the easel that
carries the photographic paper.
PROCEDURE IN PRINTMAKING

The negative carrier with the negative inserted on it and with the emulsion facing downward
to the enlarger is the correct position in printmaking. If it is loaded on the wrong side, the projected
image will be reversed and the accurateness of the object is altered.

The white light inside the dark room if cut off, allowing the red light or safe light that will not
affect the sensitized portion (emulsion) of the photographic paper.

When the enlarger light is switched on, the image of the negative is projected to the easel or
base of the enlarger. All other lights coming from the edge of the negative must be eliminated.

The enlarger is adjusted as to the size of the print to be made and afterwards, the focusing
mechanism of the enlarger is manipulated until the image projected becomes sharp or clear.

After focusing the image, the light coming from the enlarger is cut off and the transferring of
the image of the negative on the photographic paper is made through the paper exposure of light that
will affect the sensitive portion of the photographic paper.

` In determining the right exposure, two or three small pieces of photographic paper is exposed
to light with different time exposures. These exposed photographic papers are invariably developed by
inspection.

The procedures in developing the exposed photographic paper that will produce photographs are:

1. The photographic paper is immersed in the developer by pushing them under the surface of the
solution with the tong. In this manner, the solution flows rapidly over the whole surface of the exposed
photographic paper.

2. The paper is gently agitated and the image will appear gradually until it reached the right density
and contrast of the image transferred. Photographic paper that received little exposure will not
reached a satisfactory depth of tone, no matter how long it is left in the developer. On the other hand,
the photographic paper that received too much exposure, the image appears after few seconds and
becomes too dark afterwards. The normally exposed photographic paper will gradually appear until it
reached the depth of tone. All of these incidences are observable under a red safe light.
3. Development is continued until the image reaches its normal density and contrast. Usually, the
development time is from 60 seconds to 90 seconds, depending upon the kinds of developer used.
Such development times are also affected by its strength and temperatures during the development
process.

4. After development, the photographic paper with the image is transferred to the next solution or
stop bath for a few seconds to remove the developing reagents along the surfaces of the photographic
paper.

5. The paper is transferred to the fixing solution, to fix and remove the unexposed portion of the
photographic paper that will make the image permanent.

6. After several minutes in the fixing solution, the white light may be switch on the image printed can
be examined. This will show which among the small pieces of photographic papers are exposed to light
correctly.

7. Wash the prints for 30 minutes and dry.

Knowing the correct exposure, the final print is made by placing the right size of photographic
paper on the easel board in such a way that the emulsion is facing upward and the marking guide of
the easel is placed properly along the edges of the photographic paper.

Expose the photographic paper correctly as tested and afterwards remove the photographic
paper from the easel board for development process.

CONTACT PRINTING

In making a contact print, the negative and the photographic paper are pace together in such a
manner that the emulsion of the negative is facing the emulsion of the photographic paper. It must be
properly pressed by a transparent medium before the exposure is made; otherwise the print will
produced a blurred image after the development process.

End of Module V

“Jesus said, ‘If you can do anything? All things are possible for the one who has
faith.”’

KEEP SAFE and