ABSTRACT
The primary focus of crime scene investigation is documentation and collection of evidence. It should go without saying that one of the best ways to document a scene is with photography. Photographic documentation serves as a permanent visual record of the crime scene. There is no right or wrong method to documenting a crime scene as long as it is entirely documented. Several approaches may be taken, for example, photographing a room from all walls facing inward, or photographing from all the corners facing inward or photographing from the center of the room facing outward. Photographing through smoke, steam, and fog can be difficult. Try to avoid direct flash if at all possible; aiming the flash at an angle away from the camera will cut down on the reflection of the flash off the smoke. The use of a longer focal-length macro lens will increase the working distance necessary to document fingerprints and ease some of the challenges.
