FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography

MODULE 3 – Light and Camera

1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

For a police photographer to take consistently successful photographs, he must

understand the basic optical principles underlying how a camera works, the type of lens
and lighting equipment to utilize, the film speed or digital setting to use in a particular
situation, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of different camera formats. By
becoming familiar with the controls on the camera, the photographer will be more able to
concentrate on the composition and lighting of each photograph.

Learning Outcomes
After studying this lesson, you should be able to:
1. explain the importance of light in photography;
2. enumerate the types, components and essential parts of a camera;
3. explain the function of the lens and identify standard and special camera lenses and zooms;
4. identify and explain the functions of different camera accessories;
5. enumerate the equipment and accessories included in a crime scene photography kit;
6. explain the proper way of handling a camera.

Lecture Notes

LIGHT

Light is the very essence and the basic substance of photography. It is important to understand
how light behaves and how lenses form it into images in order to gain a broader view of the possibilities
of photography.

We tend to take light for granted even when it is light that enables us to view the world through
our eyes. Light is what enables our eyes to see, just as sound enables our ears to hear, and flavor enables
our tongue to taste.

In Langford's Basic Photography. visible light is defined as a stream of energy radiating away
from the sun or similar radiant source," with four important characteristics (Langford, Fox, & Smith,
2010):

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

1. Light behaves as if it moves in waves, like

ripples crossing the surface of water.
Variations in wavelengths give our eyes the
sensation of different colors.

2. Light travels in a straight line (within a

uniform substance or medium). This can be
seen in light beams and shafts of sunlight,
and the way that shadows fall.

3. Light moves at great speed (approximately

300,000 kilometers or 186,000 miles per
second through the vacuum of space). It
moves less fast in air, and slightly slower still
in denser substances such as water or glass.

4. Light also behaves as if it consists of energy

particles or photons These bleach dyes cause
chemical changes in films and electronic
response in digital camera sensors. The more
intense the light, the more photons it
contains.

John Hedgecoe (2005) explains the path of light in photography by starting with the subject and
light source. Light rays reflected from the subject of the photo are transmitted through a glass lens at the
front of the camera to form a latent image on the film. A lens consists of a convex disk of ground and
polished glass that reflects the widening light rays traveling away from every point of the subject. Light is
prevented from reaching the film by a shutter until your chosen moment of exposure. The point at which
the lens focuses these rays - the focal plane coincides with the position of the film when the lens is
correctly focused. The focal plane is where the rays of light refracted by the lens converge to form a
sharp, upside down image Light traveling from different distances from the camera needs varying degrees
of refraction to focus at the focal plane, so a focusing mechanism moves the lens toward or away from the
position of the film and focal plane coincides when the lens is correctly focused.

The amount of exposure to light is most often controlled by a combination of the time the shutter
is open (the shutter speed) and the diameter of the light beam passing (the aperture). The shutter speed
and the aperture are controls that influence the visual result. Shutter time alters the way movement is
recorded, blurred or frozen; while lens aperture alters the depth of subject that is shown in focus at one
time (depth of field) (Langford, Fox, & Smith, 2010). These controls will be explained further in this
chapter.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

Two Main Sources of Light

1. Natural Light
This refers to the day light coming from the sun, which is generally utilized for outdoor
photography, or light that comes to existence without the intervention of man. Light produced by the sun,
including direct sunlight, the soft light in a shadow, light that bounced off a reflective surface, moonlight
reflected from the sun, and starlight are all sources of natural light.

Daylight photography depends as much on the quality of the day light as its strength. The quality
of day light is a combination of contrast and color temperature or color of the day.

Natural light can be classified according to its intensity.

a. Bright Light - a lighting condition wherein objects in open space cast a deep on uniform shadow
In bright light, the subject will produce strong shadow because the source of light is not covered
by clouds. In black and white photography the object or subject looks contrastly.

b. Hazy Light- a lighting condition wherein the objects in open space cast a transparent shadow
In hazy sunlight, the sun is covered by the clouds and shadow appears bluish because of the
decrease of the light falling on the subjects in open space. The shadow cast is transparent to the
eye and more details are visible under this lighting condition than in bright When the sunlight is
obscured by light clouds, the intensity of the direct light falling on subject in open space is
decreased. In effect, the light coming from the sky becomes stronger that the shadows appears
more bluish that in bright sunlight.

c. Dull Light - a lighting condition wherein the objects in open space cast no shadow. In dull
sunlight, the sun is totally covered by thick clouds. No shadows are formed due to the uniform
illumination of light around the subjects in open space.

2. Artificial light
This refers to man-made sources of light used or utilized for indoor photography to align the
adverse lighting condition. It is also utilized to align the hazy or dull light in outdoor photography.

This includes all non-natural sources such as conditions light from incandescent and fluorescent light
bulbs, electronic flashes and studio strobes.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

Sources of Artificial Light

a. Continuous Duration
 Fluorescent Lamps
 Incandescent Lamps/ Tungsten Light
 Photoflood Lamps
 Infrared Lamp
 Ultraviolet Lamp

b. Short Duration
 Flash bulbs (chemical flash lamp)
 Flash cubes
 Flash bar
 X- cube
 Electronic flash

Types of Electronic Flash

1. Strobe cube
2. Slave unit or slave flash
3. Right light
4. Accessory flash unit

Types of Accessory Flash Units

1. Manual Flash - These flash units require you to figure out the correct exposure for your
shooting conditions.
2. Automatic Flash - These flash units use automatic sensors to control light output and
duration based on the distance from the camera to the subject. When you set the aperture you
want to use, the flash will automatically calculate how much light is needed to illuminate a
specific distance range, such as 3 to 15 feet; the flash unit will have an electric eye that reads
the amount of light bouncing back from the subject.
3. Dedicated Light Unit - They are made to work with your camera in specific electronic means
(hence the name). They will do all the thinking for the photographer: automatically setting the
correct shutter speed and aperture, and controlling the exposure by regulating flash duration.
4. Built-in Flash Unit - a flash unit built into the camera.
5. Off camera Flash - a flash unit not mounted on the camera.

Flash synchronization speed is a shutter speed that can be used when working with a flash unit to
obtain evenly lit results.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

By definition, a camera is
photographic apparatus used to expose
sensitized film or plates to reflected light
images formed by a lens (Brenner, 2004).
It can also be considered as a light tight
box with a means of forming the image,
holding sensitized materials, and
controlling the amount of light that will
reach the film.

A camera usually has electronic refinements and automatic features, but underneath all that is a
basic design that includes a lightproof container with a hole at one end over which a lens is placed and a
holder opposite to accommodate either a strip of light-sensitive film, or a light-sensitive electronic chip.
To produce a correctly exposed 42image in a variety of light intensities, the camera lens has an iris
diaphragm that can be adjusted to leave a hole of varying diameter. This is called the aperture. On a fixed-
lens compact camera, the lens also contains a shutter mechanism, known as a between-the-lens shutter,
which opens to allow light to reach the film. The shutter allows you to choose the precise moment of
exposure, and by selecting from a range of shutter speeds you can also control the length of exposure. The
shutter mechanism on a single lens reflex (SLR) camera is located inside the body, behind the lens. just in
front of the film or digital sensor, and is known as a focal plane shutter" (Hedgecoe, 2005).

Camera Types

35MM SLR Camera

 SLR (single lens reflex) cameras are the

most popular type for serious photography.
They could be either digital or use 35mm
film. An SLR camera's unique feature lies in
the design of its viewfinder system in which a
system of mirrors shows the user the image
precisely as the lens renders it. Thus, no
matter what focal length lens is attached to
the camera, the scene the photographer sees
through the viewfinder corresponds exactly
to that seen by the lens.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

 Compact or point-and-shoot cameras can be

either digital or film cameras and are light and
easy to use. This non-SLR camera does not
support interchangeable lenses and the view
seen through the viewfinder is not exactly the
same as that seen through the lens. This
problem can result in framing errors and not
seeing whether the image is correctly focused.
They are called point-and-shoot because they
have controls that are either very simplified or
very automated (or both). Such cameras are
meant to be used to record snapshots without
having to learn how to use a camera.

 Medium-format cameras use wide rolls of film

(between the 35mm and 4x5-inch formats) for
better image definition. Because of the large
negative size, the image resolution is higher
with medium format than 35mm cameras.
These cameras tend to be more expensive, and
lenses tend to be large.

Essential Components of ahas

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A camera should haveDO
the NOT
following controls and
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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

1. A means to accurately aim the camera and compose the picture

2. An ability to focus precisely
3. A shutter to control the moment of exposure and how long light acts on the sensitive
surface
4. An aperture to control image brightness and depth of field
5. A method of loading and removing film, without allowing unwanted light to affect it
6. A meter to measure the light and indicate or set the exposure needed for each shot

Essential Parts of a Camera

1. Light Tight Box or Body - part of the camera that is very important because of its
capability to exclude all the unwanted light that might expose the film

2. Lens - a glass, plastic, or crystal optical clement molded into a curved shape that can
bend and focus rays of light; responsible for focusing the rays of light coming from the
subject

3. Film Holder - holds the film firmly inside the camera

4. Shutter - device used to control the amount of time during which light is allowed to enter
the camera and register on the film or image sensor; serves as the barrier of the rays of
light that will enter and affect the film inside the camera

Setting the shutter at certain speeds enables the camera to determine the length of time the film is
exposed. Moving the shutter speed dial to the next stop either doubles or halves exposure time

Shutter speed: B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000

 Number 1 stands for a whole second and the others are a fraction of a second.
 The shutter speed of 125 is capable of stopping the movement of the subject.
 The shutter speed of 60, 125 and above is advisable to use when handholding the camera with a
50mm lens but if your lens is 300mm, use 500/sec or higher.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

5. Viewfinder - an optical or electrical device used to compose and frame a scene; shows the
entire scene coverage that can be recorded in the film inside the camera; also called a
view system, a finder or a viewing screen

Compact or point-and-shoot cameras have direct vision viewfinders that do not show exactly the
same image that the lens sees. In SLR cameras, light is reflected by a mirror and pentaprism to the
viewfinder. Digital cameras usually have an LCD monitor to show the image being projected onto the
sensor.

6. Film Advancer & Lever-a mechanism for moving film from one spool to another
incrementally one frame at a time

7. Shutter Speed - it will control the duration between the opening and closing of the shutter

8. Lens Aperture - an opening (diaphragm) in a light-blocking plate that allows light to

strike the film or image sensor, the ratio between the diameter and focal length of the
lens; the light gathering power of the lens.

 The diameter of the lens diaphragm can be changed by turning the aperture ring.
This dictates the brightness of the image reaching the film. Moving to the next f-
number either halves or doubles aperture size. Aperture size also affects depth of
field.
 The higher the number, the smaller the lens opening
 The smaller the lens opening, the greater the depth of field.

9. Focusing Mechanism - The sharpness or clearness of the objects being photographed

will depend upon the focusing system of the camera. The focus is the physical point at
which rays of light from a lens converge to form a properly defined image of the subject

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

Focusing control:

Parts of an SLR Camera

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

CAMERA LENSES

As defined above, a lens is a glass, plastic, or crystal optical element molded into a curved shape
that can bend and focus rays of light. It is responsible for focusing the rays of light coming from the
subject.

Simple lenses feature a single convex or concave lens. Most photographic lenses feature multiple
elements housed in a single lens barrel that cancel out each element's weaknesses to produce a sharp
image. The size of the individual lens elements and their positions determine the angle of view and focal
length of the lens.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

Standard Camera Lenses

Standard camera lenses can be divided into the following broad groups (Hedgecoe, 2005):

1.Standard/Normal Lens
A standard lens or normal lens has a focal length that is roughly equivalent to the diagonal of the
light-sensitive, image-recording area within the camera. They usually have wide maximum
apertures, making them useful in low-light situations.

2. Wide Angle Lens

A wide-angle lens has a focal length shorter than the diagonal of the film frame or image sensor.
It provides a broader angle of view than a standard lens and is therefore ideal for photographing a
group of people or when working in confined space. However, distortion may be a problem if the
lens is used too close to a subject.

A wide-angle lens is also sometimes called a short lens. These lenses can be rectilinear (straight
lines are preserved) or fisheye (showing extreme barrel distortion).

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

3. Long-Focus Lens
A long focus lens has a focal length that is much greater than the diagonal of the film or image
format with which it is used. Longer focal lengths are useful for taking large images of distant
subjects or when unable to move close enough to the subject to use a shorter lens.

4. Zoom Lens
A zoom lens has a variable focal length. It allows fine-tuning of subject framing by adjusting the
focal length of the lens.

Special Camera Lenses and Zooms

The following are special lenses and zooms designed for the 35mm format (Hedgecoe, 2005).

1. Mirror Lens
A mirror lens uses a combination of glass elements and mirrors that bounce the light up and down
the lens barrel, manipulating the light rays to allow a long focal length to be contained within a
physically short space. The compact design reduces the bulk and weight associated with extreme
long-focus lenses.

2. Ultra-Wide Angle Lens

Linearly corrected ultra-wide-angle lenses have a focal length ranging from around 21mm down
to around 15mm. An example is the fisheye lens, which has a very wide-angle lens that produces
distorted view of the world.

3. Wide-Angle Zoom
A wide-angle zoom is likely to be slower and heavier and to show more image distortion than a
wide-angle fixed focal length lens. However, it has the advantage of being able to select
intermediate focal length settings.

4. Shift Lens
A shift lens is also sometimes called a perspective control lens. It can be shifted off-center in
relation to the film frame, so that the correct perspective can be achieved when photographing
converging vertical lines such as tall buildings.

5. Macro Lens
Macro lenses are designed to render a subject with 1:1 or higher magnification for very close
focusing distances. They are useful in taking close-ups of small subjects or isolating details of
larger subjects because they allow the camera to focus extremely close to a subject to record a
detailed image.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

6. Telephoto Lens
A telephoto lens has a focal length longer than the diagonal of the film frame or image sensor.
Telephoto lenses make a subject appear larger on film than a normal lens at the same camera-to-
subject distance. They also have a shallower depth of field than wide-angle lenses. They are
usually used by sports photographers who frequently use a monopod for support and
maneuverability

7. Telephoto Zoom
A telephoto zoom ranging from 75-300mm encompasses about A six fixed focal length lenses.
This type of zoom is popular with sports and wildlife photographers. It is also useful for portraits
and can be used to photograph architectural and landscape details.

Classification of Lenses

1. Positive lens - a convex lens characterized by the fact that it is thicker in the middle than the
edge, and forms a real image on the opposite side of the lens. It has a positive focal length and
bends the rays together, which makes it a converging lens.

2. Negative lens - a concave lens characterized by the fact that it is thinner in the middle than the
edge and forms a virtual image on the same side of the lens. It does not require focusing at all, as
everything will be sharp, upright and clear, no matter how close or far away the object. It is also
known as a diverging lens because of its power to diverge rays of light that passes through it.

Inherent Defects and Aberrations of Lenses

1. Chromatic aberration- It is an inability of the lens to focus all colors in the same plane. It is a
lens defect which has trouble bringing all the different wavelengths of visible light into focus at
the same point on the film. This is the most difficult lens aberrations to correct.

2. Spherical aberration - a lens defect wherein the photographic rays passing through the edges
refract more sharply than those passing through the central part of the lens. Thus, they come to
focus at the edges than at the central rays.

3. Astigmatism - the inability of the lens to focus in both horizontal and vertical plane at the same
time; or the inability of the lens to focus in both lines running indifferent direction (e.g., a cross)

4. Distortion - outer parts of the image produced by the lens will be magnified either less or more
than the outer image

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

Distortion comes into two basic forms:

a. Pincushion distortion - In pincushion distortion, there are straight lines near the edges
of the frame bow toward the center of the frame. The curving is inward.

b. Barrel distortion - in barrel distortion, straight lines near the edges of the frame bow
outward from the center.

5. Coma - This is known as lateral aberration. It is concerned with rays entering the lens
obliquely. It is a lens defect that produces a blurred comet- like image.

6. Curvature of field - the image formed by lens comes to a sharper focus on a curved surface
than on a flat surface.

7. Chromatic difference of magnification - the inability of the lens to produce images sizes of
object with different color.

Types of Lens According to Their Degree of Correction

1. Achromatic or apochromatic -lens corrected for chromatic aberration

2. Aspherical lens - lens corrected for spherical aberration

3. Anagmatism or anastigmatic lens - lens corrected for astigmatism

4. Process lens - lens corrected for astigmatism but with higher correction to color; a super
corrected lens for astigmatism

5. Rapid rectilinear lens - a lens corrected for distortion; a combination of two achromatic
lenses with almost the same focal length

CAMERA ACCESSORIES

The following are among the several camera accessories that can be utilized in photographing
subjects.

1. Tripod - a stand consisting of three legs and a mounting head for a camera; used to support
and stabilize the camera.

2. Cable release - a cable with a button or plunger attached to a camera to prevent accidental
movement and eliminate camera shake.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

3. Flash unit - an artificial light source synchronized with the opening and closing of the shutter
to emit a brief but very bright burst of illumination to a scene.

4. Light Meter - a device used in determining the intensity of light that strikes the subjects and
affects the film.

5. Extension Tube - a tube inserted between the lens and camera body to provide increased
magnification for macrophotography, used in photographing minute objects

6. Filter - a piece of colored glass, gelatin, plastic, or other material that attaches to or over the
camera or enlarger lens to selectively absorb (or otherwise alter) the light passing through it;
used to enhance color or contrast, remove reflections, reduce haze, soften focus, or produce a
variety of special effects
There are two general types of photographic filters, namely the non special effects filters which
are intended to manipulate the way film reacts to subject colors, and the special effects filters which are
intended to give special effect to pictures. Examples of special effects filters include multi-images filter,
speed filter and double exposure filter.

Filters can also be classified into five, namely:

a. Contrast filter - adjusts the tonal differences of an image

b. Correction filter - colored filter used in black & white image capture to ensure that tones are
reproduced with the same relative brightness as perceived by the human eye
c. Haze filter - used to filter out ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause a bluish fog and loss
of detail in distant objects; also used to protect the front lens element from dust, moisture and
scratches
d. Sky filter - a graduated filter designed to darken the sky while leaving the foreground exposure
unaltered
e. Polarizing filter - gray filter used over light sources or camera lenses to reduce specular
reflections on certain surfaces; also increases saturation of colors, especially in landscapes

Primary color filters allow only that particular primary color pass through - that is, red allows red
to pass through, blue allows blue, and green allows green. Complementary color filters work in the same
way. Yellow is a mixture of red and green, so yellow filter allows only those two colors to pass through,
and so on.

Color combination of photographic filters:

a. Yellow and magenta - red

b. Cyan and magenta - blue
c. Cyan and yellow - green
d. Red and green - yellow
e Blue and red = magenta
f. Blue and green = cyan
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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

7. Camera Grip - a device used to hold the camera firmly so as to prevent vibration or movement

8. Lens Hood - A plastic, metal, or rubber device that attaches to the front of a lens to shield it
from extraneous light and eliminate reflection that might destroy the image cast by objects
especially when the light is coming from the top or side portions of the camera: also offers added
physical protection against accidental blows; also called sun shade or lens shade

Basic Crime Scene and Evidence Photography Kit

In Crime Scene and Evidence Photographer's Guide, Robert C. Staggs (2005) recommends the
following equipment and accessories to be used by a forensic photographer.

1. Camera
2. Normal lens (a 50mm lens is considered a normal lens for a 35mm camera)
3. Wide angle lens (28mm or similar for a 35mm camera)
4. Close-up lenses or accessories (e.g., macro lens, 1:1 adapter, extension tubes, bellows,
reversing ring, or close up filters)
5. Filters (red, orange, yellow, blue, and green)
6. Electronic flash
7. Remote sync cord for electronic flash (to operate flash when not mounted on camera)
8. Extra camera and flash batteries
9. Locking cable release
10. Tripod
11. Film (color and black and white print film
12. Owner's manuals for camera and flash
13. Notebook and pen
14. Scales
15. ABFO #2 scale (injury photography
16. Gray card (to aid in getting accurate exposures)
17. Index cards and felt pen
18. Flashlight

Other equipment that should be considered

1. Telephoto lenses (135mm, telephoto zoom lens for surveillance photography
2. Supplementary light meter for low light level readings
3. Small tools for emergency camera repairs
4. Blocks of wood, clothespins, and other devices for positioning evidence for close-up
photography
5. White handkerchief or other flash diffusion material
6. Levels
7. Tape measure
8. Color chart or color control patches (injury photography)

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

PROPER HANDLING OF THE CAMERA

Camera motion can be caused by lack of sharpness. There are two prime causes of camera
motion.

1. Vibration - usually caused by body movement including the beating of the heart
2. Actual camera movement - caused by the improper holding of the camera

How to Hold a Camera

Camera motion can result in blurry images. To prevent this, it is important to hold the camera
properly by considering the following.

1. Hold the camera with the right hand and place the index finger under the shutter release. The
thumb should be under the film advance lever and the remaining three fingers against the front of
the camera.
2. The heel of the camera must lie on the palm of the left hand
3. The photographer's arm should be resting against the body with the legs far enough apart to be
a steady base. When taking a photograph in a kneeling position, do not rest the elbow on the
knees as the bone-to-bone contact is unsteady and will be reflected in the photograph.

The placement of the rest of the body while taking the photograph as important as holding the
camera.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

Care and Handling of the Camera and Film

The photographer should take care of the camera between uses by keeping it out of direct sunlight
and away from heat sources The camera should never be exposed to direct sunlight or to heat inside glove
compartments or trunks of vehicles during hot weather. The photographer should also keep the film in an
insulated chest or wrapped in white reflective cloth. Exposed film should be maintained in a refrigerator
or processed immediately. In cold weather, the camera should be protected by keeping it under your
jacket as the film may become brittle and tear or break. Salt water may also damage the camera and film
so make sure the camera is fully protected. Negatives should be placed in a plastic sleeve to avoid
scratches.

Review Questions:
Instructions: Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What is light and why is it important in photography?

2. What is a camera?
3. What are the types, components and essential parts of a camera?
4. What is a lens? What is its function in a camera?
5. What are the different standard lenses? The special camera lenses and zooms?
6. What are the different camera accessories that a photographer can utilize and what are their functions?
7. What items should be included in a forensic photography kit?
8. How should a photographer handle a camera to prevent motion?

References
Books/Journal/Magazine/Proceedings
BULAN, M.E., MAGADIA, M.E. 2013. Police Phoography: Chapter House Publishing
Inc. pp. 19-43.

Electronic References

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Palawan State University South Campuses for educational purposes only.
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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

Icons Used

en.wikipedia.org
leicarumors.com

mir.com.my
wordpress.com

photographyblog.com butkus.org

medium.com

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

ACTIVITY 2
LIGHT

OVERVIEW: Light is everything in photography. Light is necessary for a forensic

photographer in taking photographs. Everything in Photography is dependent to the ambient light
to expose the sensitized materials.
OBJECTIVE: The students will be able to understand the indispensable role of light in the field
of photography.
KEYWORDS: Light, Natural light, Artificial light
PROCEDURE: Explain the keywords in their corresponding boxes. Give some source of
Natural light and Artificial lights.
I.
LIGHT.

Definition:

NATURAL LIGHT.
Definition:

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.

Definition:

II.
SOURCES OF NATURAL LIGHT

SOURCES OF ARTIFICAIL LIGHT

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

III. Illustrate the Characteristics of light.

REFLECTED.

ABSORBED.

TRANSMITTTED

REFLECTION:
Explain the importance of light to a photograph.
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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

ACTIVITY 3
LIGHT

OVERVIEW: A camera by the most basic definition captures still photographs or video, either
on film of digitally. It is very hard to have an accurate and faithful representation of evidences if
you cannot understand the medium being used for the preservation and documentation of events
or evidences. Photos and videos taken with cameras are used to communicate or tell stories; it
helps a person to understand the story of a person, place, or an event.
OBJECTIVE: The students will be able to identify and demonstrate the different parts and
functions of the camera.
MATERIALS: Camera and pen
PROCEDURE: Draw a SLR camera on BOX B. Identify the different parts of the camera by
labelling it using the corresponding letter. Refer to BOX A.

BOX A.

A. Light tight box F. Shutter release K. Focal length

B. Lens button L. Film rail

C. Aperture ring G. Viewfinder M. Tripod socket

D. Film sprocket H. Film advance lever N. Shutter

E. Focusing ring I. Hot shoe O. Shutter speed scale

J. Film take-up stool P. Film rewind knob

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

BOX B.

FRONT OF THE CAMERA

BACK OF THE CAMERA

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

II. PROCEDURE: Indicate the specific functions of the different parts of the
camera.

Parts of the Camera Functions

Light tight box

Lens

Viewfinder

Shutter

Shutter speed scale

Shutter release button

Film advance lever

Focusing ring

Focal length

Film rewind knob

Film take-up stool

Aperture ring

Hot shoe

Film sprocket

Film rail

Tripod socket

REFLECTION: Write your comments or observations of the activity that you have just
performed.
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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

ACTIVITY 4
TYPES OF CAMERA

OBJECTIVE: The students will be able to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the
common and major types of camera.
KEYWORDS: box type camera, folding camera, press camera, miniature camera, digital SLR,
view finder type, single lens reflex type, twin lens/double lens, reflex type.
PROCEDURE: Attach pictures of the given type of cameras and write their advantages and
disadvantages.

I. COOMON TYPES OF CAMERA

Types of Camera Advantages Disadvantages

REFLECTION: With all the advantages and disadvantages of each types of camera, write an
article on which camera do you think is more effective for police photography.

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

ACTIVITY 5
CAMERA ACCESSORIES

OBJECTIVE: The students will be able to identify the different accessories of the camera and
its functions.
KEYWORDS: tripod, shutter release, cable, filter, flash unit, light meter, extension tube, lens
hood
PROCEDURE: Write the different functions or purpose of each keyword;

Camera Accessories Functions

REFLECTION: How does these camera accessories help in producing quality image?

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 FORENSIC 1/L – Forensic Photography
MODULE 3 – Light and Camera
1st Semester, AY 2020-2021

ACTIVITY 6
CAMERA LENSES

OVERVIEW: Lenses are vital in taking photographs. A good lens is necessary to avoid
aberration and to have a very accurate photographs. The quality of the lens, the maximum size of
the aperture and other characteristics are to be considered. Lenses dictate what type of
photographs you can take.
OBJECTIVE: The students will be able to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the
different camera lenses.
KEYWORDS: wide lens angle, normal lens, telephoto lens, zoom lens, macro lens, micro lens
PROCEDURE: Write the different types of camera lenses and give its advantages and
disadvantages.

Types of Camera Lenses Advantages Disadvantages

REFLECTION: Write a short article on what you have learned about the advantages and
disadvantages of the lenses.

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