Practical Forensic Digital Imaging ─ Applications and Techniques

Well-documented scenes can prove to be invaluable pieces of evidence at trial, and the ability to take compelling photographs is a critical skill for forensic scientists and investigators. Practical Forensic Digital Imaging: Applications and Techniques is an up-to-date and thorough treatment of digital imaging in the forensic sciences. Balancing practical considerations with scientific and standards-based requirements, the book's clear, concise presentation illustrates the essentials of digital imaging required by professionals in the field.

Enhanced with crisp color photos, the book covers a host of critical topics, including:

The fundamentals of photographing crime scenes

The history of photography and the transition to digital imaging

Digital camera hardware and photographic techniques

Light, filters, and macro/micro imaging

Lay, professional, and expert witnesses, and the implications of Frye and Daubert

Enhancement of images and digital panoramic camera scanning

Storage of digital media

Ultraviolet and infrared imaging

Digital photo imaging microscopes

Covering the full range of scenarios that forensic professionals encounter, the author includes special sections dedicated to photography involving footwear and tire impressions, vehicles, death and morgue scenes, and taphonomic and entomological imaging, as well as fingerprints, burglaries, fire and arson, sex offenses, blood, and trace evidence and microscopy. The techniques in this volume enable photographers to capture the images that will not only tell the story, but will also stand up in court.

Watch Patrick Jones in his laboratory on the CRC Press YouTube channel.

Patrick Jones is the Forensic Science Laboratory director at Purdue University. In addition to managing two laboratories, he teaches Crime Scene Investigation, Introduction to Forensic Science, Criminalistics Lab, and Advanced Criminalistics Lab. Mr. Jones has more than 34 years of experience in law enforcement, forensics investigation, security, and training. As a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), he has worked on the John Wayne Gacy case, the Larry Eyler case (both serial killers) and the Ed Ling case among many others. He lectures and presents these cases for students and interested groups. Patrick Jones is also currently a White County Indiana Deputy Coroner and is an Indiana State Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator.