This textbook is designed for two principal photography student types. One group is the student in an
academic setting. Students are expected to acquire a solid grasp of the theories and concepts of their
various courses. This is the Knowledge point of the “KSAs” frequently required by employers. Students
in an academic setting normally are expected to also learn the aspects of photography that have their
foundation in physics and optics. But, to make students competitive in the real world when applying
for their first jobs, it is also important to have them acquire the Skills and Abilities which are the
remainder of the sought after triad of “KSAs.” Current students will have to capture successful images
at their future jobs.
A second student type is the current practitioner working within various law enforcement agencies.
Techniques to get the job done are what they look for. These students will hopefully learn the basics
of crime scene photography, and improve their skill set by reading this text, and eventually become
recognized within their agencies as the go-to person when quality images are required.
This marriage of theory and practice is a fundamental aspect of this textbook.
Now, I am extremely excited to be able to produce this Second Edition. I have tried to update each of
my chapters from the First Edition, and this Second Edition has additional material not originally in
the First. This edition also has 144 new images.
Robert Sanders provides a new first chapter on the History of Forensic Imaging. This grounds the
remaining chapters by giving the reader a sense of where we’ve come from. One should know one’s
roots to appreciate where one currently is and what one has. This new first chapter does this nicely.
David Witzke has added a new chapter on Digital Image Processing. This is a complementary chapter
to his original chapter on Digital Imaging. I fear many may buy this book just for Ski’s two chapters!
Since Ski is already planning his third chapter, I expect he’ll soon become the primary author. I’d be
delighted and proud to submit proposed chapters to Ski when this happens.
Readers will quickly discover that this Second Edition is in full color! Academic Press agreed this
photography
book could only reach its full potential by being in full color. It makes everything so
much easier to understand.
