Photography Primer for Evidence Photography By John Hamilton,
MSME PE, 2001 This is written to assist those who need to
photograph objects that may be used as evidence and only have at
their disposal a camera with a single one-camera flash. It is
the goal of this paper to explain how to record as much detailed
information as possible with a camera and single flash. It is
assumed that the photographer will have minimal control over
where the objects are located and will not have access to
complex lighting equipment. Photographic images are formed on
film by light reacting with light sensitive chemicals within the
film. Outside of focusing, all the controls and settings within
the camera regulate the amount of light that reaches the film.
There are three basic exposure controls on a camera that deal
with exposure: Film speed, Aperture (f-stop), and Shutter speed.
Each of the above controls the amount of light reaching the film
and has side effects on the image. Photographers measure the
amount of light in terms