ABSTRACT
There are a myriad of equipment considerations to take into account when imaging evidence in a forensic setting. This section will focus on some of the aspects of digital imaging that the photographer must be aware of in order to capture high quality images and the equipment necessary to achieve this. Good photography, however, is ultimately predicated on the photographer’s knowledge of the camera equipment and advanced camera operation. The photographer must know the equipment thoroughly, not only to use it properly but also to understand its limitations. Additionally, the photographer must understand the nature of the evidence being documented. Is the evidence a latent fingerprint enhanced with a fluorescent powder? Is it a ligature mark that shows contrast under UV radiation? How will this photograph be used? Is photography being performed to document what you see during an examination or will it be compared to some exemplar? The answers to these questions will certainly vary, but they will also dictate the file format and type of lens, camera, and other equipment that is used during photo documentation.
