Photography of Footwear Impression Evidence

Topics - Photography of Footwear Impression Evidence

Instructions for Examination Quality Photographs

F.U.S.S.   Method

Helpful Suggestions

Articles-Footwear Impression Photography

Instructions for Examination Quality Photographs

• Load a Slow Speed (ISO 100) Black & White film.
• Place a 'Bureau Scale' that is: A). Adjacent to the impression.
  B). On the same plane as the impression.
• Place a label identifying the impression & its orientation.
• Position the camera mounted on a tripod directly over the impression.
• Adjust the film's plane parallel to the impression's surface.
• Fill the frame of the camera's view finder to include
  the impression, scale & label.
• Determine the light angle to be used. In most cases,
  this will be oblique lighting.
• Focus the camera on the impression, not the scale.
• Position the flash at least three feet from the impression.
• Block out ambient light (if necessary).
• Utilize the cable shutter release or self-timer.
• Photograph each impression with a minimum of two light directions
  separated by 100 degrees.

Helpful Suggestions for Footwear Impression Photography

*  Black and White Film in normally advised. An exception to this rule is when the impression is in blood. The use of color film to record bloody footwear impression should be considered, since the color film will capture the 'red' of the blood, thus providing contrast to the underlying surface.

*  Photographs taken using Oblique Light are enhanced upon efforts to reduce sunlight or roomlight that shines upon the impression.

*  Be sure to Focus on the footwear impression. Out-of-focus photographs result when the photographer focuses the camera on the scale, which is often at a different plane than the impression.

*  Position the Scale next to, and on the same plane as the impression. You may have to depress the scale into the soil or snow adjacent to the impression. See the above paragraph.

*  When photographing an impression in dark colored soil .... The dark soil's surface will absorb more light, thus reflecting less light unto your camera's film. The problem created in this instance, is that the negative becomes underexposed. Compensate for this problem by increasing the exposure time of the shutter speed.

*  Conversely, when photographing an impression on a light-colored surface such as snow or sand ...... This surface will reflect more light unto your camera's film. The problem created in this instance, is that the negative becomes overexposed. Compensate for this problem by decreasing the exposure time of the shutter speed.

*  The contrast of a shallow impression on a light-colored surface can be improved by a technique known as Highlighting. This is done by lightly spraying the impression with a colored aerosol such as auto primer. The color may be gray, rust or some other color. The choice of color is dependant upon the color of the underlying surface. This method assists the examiner by providing more contrast by which to view the characteristics in the impression.

*  If you are taking a Meter Reading prior to photography, take the reading in shaded conditions. Shield the impression from sunlight by positioning your body or an object to cast a shadow.

F.U.S.S.   Method:

Ernest D. Hamm suggests a protocol for assuring that quality photographs of footwear impressions are recorded. Hamm suggests a F.U.S.S. Method:

• Fill the Frame with the impression. Also include in the frame any documentation such as a label placed adjacent to the impression.
• Use a Scale which is approximately the size of the impression.
• Side-Light the Impression with oblique lighting. This produces shadows in the impression that reveal characteristics important for the examiner.
• Several Photographs should be taken of the impression. Move the light source (flash unit) to several locations around the impression without changing the position of the camera. This produces several photographs of each impression for the examiner, that are valuable due to the varying shadow effects.

Footwear Textbooks Containing Photographic Instructions

Photography Literature Published in Professional Journals:

C.A.S.T. Website address: http://members.aol.com/varfee/mastssite/index.html