​Instructors: 
Matthew Steiner, MS, CSCSA
Course length:  40 hours

Basic Crime Scene Photography

This 40-hour Basic Crime Scene Photography course provides instruction that can permit the student to successfully document evidence and scenes in a professional manner.  The course begins with instruction of basic photographic techniques such as the mechanics of exposure, depth-of-field, and motion control.  Camera handling and operation are stressed in all areas to include camera controls and how they work.  Electronic flash techniques are also presented with a nighttime Painting-With-Light Exercise included.

 
DAY 1
 
Basic Photography
  1. Introduction to Crime Scene Photography
  2. Camera Basics
  3. How to Hold the Camera
  4. Introduction to the Exposure Triangle
  5. Camera Operational Modes
  6. Components of a Digital SLR Camera
 
Exposure
  1. Determining Proper Exposure
  2. Shutter Speed
  3. Aperture
  4. ISO
 

DAY 2

Exposure
  1. The Reflective  Light Meter
    1. Spot Metering
    2. Center Weighted Metering
    3. Matrix/Evaluative  Metering
  2. Understanding Reciprocity
  3. Sunny 16 Rule
  4. Exposure Compensation
 
Lenses
  1. Focal Length – Field of View & Magnification
  2. Focal Range/Lens Ratio/Lens Ring Size
  3. Prime Lens
  4. Zoom Lens
  5. Lens Length and Distortion
  6. Optical Problems

Filters for Forensic Photographs
  1. UV
  2. Circular Polarizing
  3. Neutral Density
  4. Barrier Filters
 
Focus
  1. Manual
  2. Auto-Focus
  3. Autofocus Issues
  4. Distance and Focusing
  

DAY 3  (12 Hr Day)

Digital Camera Operation
  1. Date/Time Settings & Significance
  2. Power Issues
  3. Formatting Media
  4. Image Settings

Depth of Field
  1. Definition
  2. Maximize Depth of Field
  3. Factors Effecting Depth of Field

Flash Photography
  1. Ambient Light
  2. Why and when to use Electronic Flash?
  3. Sync Speed
  4. Flash Head
  5. Flashgun Features
  6. Flash Modes
  7. Fill Flash
  8. Oblique Flash
  9. Bounce Flash

Nighttime/Low Light Photography
  1. Equipment
  2. Existing Light
  3. Long Exposure with Flash
  4. Painting With Light

 
DAY  4

Composition – Crime Scene Photography
  1. Context
  2. Composition – Art and Science
Scene Specific Crime Scene Photography
Photo Logs


DAY 5

Mock Scene
Courtroom Testimony
Course Review, Evaluations and Presentation of Certificates


​*This course has been approved for 40 hours of certification/re-certification training credit by the IAI Crime Scene Certification Board.
Matthew Steiner
Matthew Steiner is a First Grade Detective with the New York City Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit.  He is a twenty-four-year veteran with over nineteen years of experience as a crime scene investigator.  Matthew is the lead instructor for the Crime Scene Unit and an instructor for the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training, teaching their Advanced Forensic Investigations for Hazardous Environments course. 

​Matthew has also been featured as an expert witness for movie, television, online, and print media.  He has a recurring feature with WIRED for their “Technique Critique” series.  Detective Steiner has assisted in crime scene reconstructions and subject matter expert commentary for CBS News, Oxygen, Discovery, E! Entertainment, and Investigation Discovery Networks.

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