This is an independent study, self-paced course.
This course will teach you how to effectively use your agency’s digital camera system. You will learn the proper approach to various types of law enforcement-related scenes that require photography documentation - from human injuries to outdoor nighttime crime scenes. The primary focus is to equip you with the confidence to adjust the camera settings to record the scene and all related evidence the way you observe them.
We will teach you the necessary skills to overcome the lighting challenges that crime, crash, and fire investigations create. You will be immersed in indoor, outdoor, daytime, and nighttime practical situations using your departmentally issued or personal cameras. IPTM’s instructor will work alongside you and share best practices so that you can become proficient in photographing a variety of scenes and evidence.
In addition to the practical exercises, we will emphasize court proven methods for properly recording the scene and archiving the images correctly with the suggested standards and best practices set by the Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technology (SWGIT), the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC), and the Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE).
Topics Include
- Three primary camera shooting modes
- Exposure Triangle
- Familiarization with departmentally issued cameras
- Forensic photography and the basics of crime scene documentation
- Footwear, tire tread, injury, and macro close-up evidence photography
- Daytime/nighttime flash photography and painting with light
- Digital image archiving as related to chain of custody
Audience
Crime scene investigators, patrol officers, detectives, investigations supervisors, forensic photographers, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel, and attorneys
Course Length
24 hours
Note
This course is IAI Crime Scene Certification approved.
Online Details
Online environment: This is an independent study, self-paced course. Although there are no specific times that you must be online, you will be required to complete assignments by the deadlines posted within the course. Instructors are available to answer your questions during each module via the help forum.
You should plan to dedicate approximately 24 hours to the course activities. You must be committed to the course and invest the time necessary for successful completion. The course must be completed within 30 days upon registration. Once the 30-day period has ended, you will no longer have access.
Computer requirements: You will complete the course entirely online. A dependable broadband internet connection with a Windows or Mac computer and Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download) are required.
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What Our Students Are Saying
- “Awesome, awesome, awesome instructor!!” – I.J.
- "Everything was a lovely experience. I enjoyed the whole course. Thank you!" – Crime Scene Tech. R. P.
- "I liked that the projects were explained very well and demonstrated and that the results were shown after." – Crime Scene Tech. A.D.
This course is not eligible for certificate discounts.