ABSTRACT
Note: there may be times when on-site photography is not advisable, when hazardous conditions preclude it.
When the site is photographed it is advisable to photograph not only the immediate area but also the surrounding and adjacent areas. For example, in the event of an explosion, the immediate area of the explosion itself is likely to have considerable damage and is hard to analyze from a blast force perspective. The investigator should examine objects somewhat away from the explosion" such as pressure gauges, lighting fixtures, walls, and floors to see the degree of defonnity produced at radii outside of the blast center. In the case of fire, evidence of charring, the melting of plastics, evidence of burnt paint, defonned metal and any other indications should be recorded. Also objects should be photographed from a number of angles so that their full three-dimensional nature is revealed. So that the true size of the items photographed is made clear, a scale or ruler should also be included beside the items to act as a benchmark.
