Forensic Photography

in criminal science, a system of photographic methods and equipment used to record material evidence during investigative and operative-search actions and for the purpose of expert examination of such evidence in court.

Forensic photography includes methods of photographing the scenes of crimes, searches, investigatory experimentation, living persons, corpses, documents, weapons used in crimes, traces of substances, and similar evidence. It makes use of both recording and investigative techniques. The first group includes photogram-metry (scale photography and stereophotogrammetry), photo-macrography of small objects and traces of substances, panoramic photography to establish the position of long stretches of ground, identification photography of faces in full face and profile, and photoreproduction of documents. Investigative techniques include infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray microphotography, holography, and color separation with amplification of color or brightness contrast.

Photography as a means of recording material evidence is provided for by Soviet criminal-procedural legislation. The photographs produced are included in the protocol of investigative actions or attached to an expert opinion.