Photo Log
Definition
The contemporaneous record tying each forensic image to its capture time, location, equipment, exposure settings, and subject description. The primary chain-of-custody document for photographic evidence.
- Primary purpose
- Chain-of-custody document for forensic images
- Key data recorded
- Photo number, subject, lens, exposure settings, scale presence, date, time, location, equipment
Common questions
What goes into a photo log?+
A photo log records the photograph number, subject being documented, camera lens used, exposure settings, whether a scale is present in the image, and the exact date and time. This creates a complete record tied to each forensic photograph.
Why is a photo log important in forensic investigations?+
The photo log is the primary chain-of-custody document for photographic evidence. It ties each image directly to its capture time, location, equipment, and subject description, which is essential for case integrity.
Is a photo log a separate document from the photographs?+
Yes. The photo log is a companion document to the photograph set itself. It is filed with the case and serves as the contemporaneous record that documents the context and technical details of every image collected.
Related terms
- ABFO No. 2 Scale
- The right-angle L-shaped reference scale with circular targets used in bite mark photography. Its design enables post-capture correction of lens distortion and...
- DSLR vs Mirrorless
- DSLR uses a mirror and optical viewfinder; mirrorless uses an electronic viewfinder. Modern Indian SOCO kits include both; mirrorless is increasingly the...
- ENFSI
- European Network of Forensic Science Institutes: the voluntary network of national forensic institutes across Europe and neighbouring regions, focused on method harmonisation,...
- Equirectangular Projection
- A panoramic map projection that preserves angular relationships in all directions; preferred for 360-degree room documentation and virtual reality scene reconstruction.
- EXIF Metadata
- Exchangeable Image File Format data embedded in a digital image by the camera. Includes date, time, camera model, exposure settings, and GPS...
- Exposure Triangle
- Aperture, shutter speed and ISO. The three variables a photographer balances to produce a correctly-exposed image.
- Four-Tier Protocol
- The standard crime-scene photography sequence: overall (establishing), mid-range (relationship), close-up with scale, and close-up without scale. Each tier answers a distinct spatial...
- IAI
- International Association for Identification; includes the Crime Scene Certification programme requiring demonstrated forensic photography competency.
- Lens Classes
- Wide-angle (under 35mm full-frame) for overviews, normal (50mm) for mid-range, macro (1:1 or closer) for close-ups, telephoto for surveillance and exterior contexts.
- Light Painting
- A technique where a handheld light source is moved across a scene during a long camera exposure to evenly illuminate large areas;...
- Nodal Point
- The optical centre of a lens from which perspective relationships are computed. Panoramas must rotate around the nodal point to avoid parallax-induced...
- Parallel-Plane Requirement
- The requirement that the camera sensor plane be parallel to the evidence-and-scale plane to eliminate keystoning distortion and allow accurate metric measurement...
Explained in these topics
- Crime-Scene Photography WorkflowThe contemporaneous record tying each forensic image to its capture time, location, equipment, exposure settings, and subject description. The primary chain-of...
- Forensic Photography: Cameras, Lenses, Films and ExposureThe companion document to the photograph set: photograph number, subject, lens, exposure settings, scale present, date and time. Filed with the case.