Prompt Cast
The History and Importance of Crime Scene Photography
TLDR Crime scene photography, invented by Alphonse Bertillon in the 19th century, is a crucial and high-pressure job that requires standard procedures to accurately capture evidence and depict the crime scene. It has become even more important with the use of video, allowing for a comprehensive view of the crime scene and the ability to show relationships between evidence.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Crime scene photography was created by a 19th century French photographer named Alphonse Bertillon, who also invented mug shots for the purpose of cataloging criminals.
03:58
The first crime scene photographer, Alphonse Bertillon, used different angles and close-ups to survey the entire crime scene and capture evidence before it was tampered with.
07:28
Crime scene photography is a crucial and high-pressure job that requires standard procedures and is so important to closing a case that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office has its own department for it, with three classifications of forensic photos: overview, midrange, and close-up.
10:52
Crime scene photography requires standard procedures to ensure that photographers are not being sensational and that the photos accurately depict the crime scene.
14:10
Crime scene photography requires sharp, unobstructed photos that adhere to standard operating procedures, including maintaining a chain of custody and preserving the original digital image.
17:38
Video has become more prevalent in crime scene photography, allowing for the ability to walk a jury through a crime scene and show relationships between evidence, although it is still necessary to also take still photographs.
21:33
Arthur Felig, also known as Weegee, was a famous crime scene photographer who had a special knack for predicting when crimes would occur and capturing not only the crime scene, but also the range of emotions displayed by the crowd.
25:05
Crime scene photographer Weegee had a reputation for capturing the notoriety of gangsters in the 40s and 50s, and would tell young criminals to wait until they made it big before he would take their picture.
Categories:
Society & Culture
