Lecture 8-9 Forensic Videography

1. Lecture 8-9Forensic Videography A Scene Documentary

2. Video • Presents scene differently than either sketching or photography • Gives better “feel” for scene than sketching or photography • Is the more intuitive way we “see” things in this world.

3. Reasons for Video • Video should be the first step in archiving a crime scene • Provides walk-though feel • Provides important “feel” for the scene. • Closer to how we view the world, which makes it a natural viewing medium • Versus staccato and static nature of photographs • Detached overview in a sketch. • Gives and immediate understanding of how evidence relates to the crime. • Sketch and photographs reinforce what video presents.

4. Documentary of the Scene • Role of the forensic videographer • Same as any forensic archivist; • Capture the scene in as an original state as possible. • Not to consider scene as work of art but as a response to what the scene is saying. • Scene dictates the process and the resulting video. • Making a documentary of the scene. • Scene video informs its viewers about a topic or an issue, which in this instance is the crime scene. • Like any endeavor that is worthwhile and done correctly, making a crime scene documentary is difficult and tedious.

5. Why Video? Isn’t Photography Sufficient?

6. Video Terminology

7. Camera Movement Terminology

8. Forensic Video Essentials Establishing/Close-up/Zoom • Establishing video shows the backdrop of the scene. • After each establishing video, the evidence in the video is shot using the macro function on camera • Close-up detail. • During establishing video, videographer • Uses zoom and macro characteristics of camera lens • The zoom speed is critical because it allows viewer to observe items in video that videographer might not consider important. • Shoots the evidence using both • Can also show archivist’s bias about what is important • Slow zoom is essential because it allows for a more detailed study of the surrounding area captured by the video.

9. Two General Categories of Forensic Video The Scene Video The Topic Video

10. Camera Speed & Position Initial Video of Evidence at a Scene • The secret to competent video: • is to slow down and obey the speed limit. • Consider the speed limit to be 8-10 seconds/quarter turn or slower. • Face an object - bloody knife lying in one corner of the room. Mission: Show its relationship to a body lying on the opposite side of the room, • Position yourself so that the camera forms a triangle midway (or close to it) between the knife and the body. • Body is most visible object at scene: Capture its location • Count off seconds in your head & slowly pan from body to knife. • The angle is less than 180o • Panning from the body to the knife should take no fewer than 10-15 seconds. Knife Photographer Position 1 Photographer Position 2 Body

11. The Scene VideoThe Scene Video is the video equivalent of the walk-through taken by the team leader and the first officer. It is a continuous process, ideally without interruption from beginning to end. Along the way, each area of the scene is captured on video. As videoing continues, the videographer slowly walks through the scene capturing as much as possible. Preparing for the Scene Video As with all documentary filming, research is the key to producing a quality product. From a crime scene perspective, the essential research means becoming familiar with the scene Checklist Before Starting • Walk through the scene with team leader to learn scene geometry. • Map the scene layout and determine video sequence, e.g., where to begin and where to end. • In second walk-through assess video and camera-specific challenges, e.g., lighting, scene obstacles, weather issues, white balance, ISO settings, etc. • Discuss with team leader what video should include: • Include entrance/egress points, important potential evidence, indoor/outdoor considerations, video perspectives, etc.

12. The Walk-Through – Scene Video 1 Hat Tile Entry Blood Pool Body 2 4 3 Footwear Impressions In Dust Zoom in on knife Knife

13. The Topic VideoA Mid-Range Video • A new paradigm for forensic video/documentary • Scene videoed twice, • Done after the Scene Video • Secondarily during the photographic archiving process using digital capability of SLR cameras (Topic Video) . • Captures individual & specific parts of scene • Visible evidence & immediate evidentiary relationships • Records the area individually from perspective of photographer taking establishing video using the same SLR camera. • Captures evidential relationships in midrange format

14. Topic VideoThe Process Indoor homicide scene: Use multi-archiving processes as follows. • Photography • Establishing photography of area of interest • Mid-rang photography of a specific area of the scene • Close-up photography follows as evidence is discovered • Video • Scene Video • Topic Video the area from different establishing perspectives. • Zoom in and out on important items of potential evidence using macro function of video camera. • Take Midrange photos of these items of potential evidence using photo function of camera • Take close-up photography of evidence when appropriate.

15. Capturing Scene Perspectives 2 Hat Blood Pool 1 Body Tile Entry Footwear Impressions In Dust 3 Knife

16. Pre-Scene Fundamentals • The equipment necessary to properly capture the scene is rapidly becoming more affordable. • Digital cameras have HD video capability and • Camcorders have digital photographic capabilities. • Before leaving to work a scene, review checklist. • Batteries fully charged. • Sufficient memory to record several hours of video either on the HDD and/or flash drives. • Might mean having a portable hard drive and/or additional memory cards available for downloading. • Lighting equipment, e.g., light stands, etc., are working and that spare bulbs are available. • Title generator and "shake free" operations are available. • If title generator not available - save approximately 15 seconds at the beginning of the tape to add title card with pertinent information to beginning of scene video. • Alternatively, the title could be generated at scene using a prepared title card.

17. On-Scene Fundamentals • Once the camera begins recording, do not stop until taping is complete. If the camera has a pause feature, it is OK to use that. • Normally, videoing is not ideal for viewing detail because videographers tend to pan past objects too quickly. • Slow panning is critical and each area should be panned twice in order to prevent unnecessary rewinding of the video for viewers. • Begin videoing with a general overview of scene and surrounding area. • Use wide angle and close-ups to demonstrate layout of evidence and its relationship and relevance to the scene. • For indoor scenes, the video shows how various areas, e.g., rooms, are laid out in relation to each other and how they can be accessed. • Complements sketches … video shows the real-life obstacles, etc. … sketch does not. • After videoing complete, leave about 15 seconds of blank video to prevent video from running into anything previously recorded. • Transfer the video to high quality and secure master memory storage • Backup original video and maintain video secure • The original video is official record of the videoed scene. • As such it is evidence. And should not be tampered with • Copies of original video are not original evidence and might not be admissible in court.