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The History of Forensic Photography

While most photography is fun, forensics or crime-scene photography is all business. It is used to document and preserve evidence. The crime scene must be reproduced and presented in court to help police and prosecutors bring criminals to justice.

  1. When and Where It Began

    • The earliest form of forensics photography was traced to Belgium and Denmark in the early 1800s. Inmates were photographed for purposes of documentation. These were the earliest mug shots and led to the hiring of professional photographers to take posed pictures of inmates.

    The Progression

    • During the late 19th century governments began collecting more information about their citizens as they became more professionalized. Police procedures began to include more science, and photography grew in popularity because people believed in its accuracy and realism.

    Crime Photography

    • The man credited with the invention of the modern mug shot translated his ideas to the crime scene itself. Alphonse Bertillon was the first to recreate a crime scene using a camera. He took shots from different angles and documented the position of bodies, and the placement of objects and evidence. His methodical approach led to major changes in the field. Pictures were published in newspapers and the public became involved in the solving of crimes.

    Modernization

    • Today the basic principles of crime-scene photography are still at work. Strides in the field are guided by technology. The digital revolution has taken forensics by storm and inventions such as ultraviolet and infrared light have led to a whole new level of evidence collecting.

    Outlook

    • Modern technology had led to a new twist in the way crimes are solved. Police often have to piece the crime scene together using the photos provided by the crime-scene photographer, surveillance camera footage and still pictures taken by passerby's cell phone.

      If you are seeking a job as a forensics photographer, the outlook is great. This is a vital occupation in our ever-more-dangerous society.

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