Class Schedule

Basic Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Needed Before Taking This Course

The Crime Scene Photography course is not a basic photography class. You should have a basic understanding of photography and know how to operate your camera before starting this class. It is strongly recommended that you read your camera and electronic flash owner's manuals and practice using the camera before the class. If owner's manuals are not available you can usually find one by checking one of the links listed below under Owners' Manuals. If you need basic photography instruction or information then you can check the links listed below under Basic Photography Tips.

It is important that you resolve any mechanical problems with your camera and flash before you begin the class. Test out the equipment (with a roll of film if you are using a film camera) to make sure it is operating properly.

You should be able to the following with the camera you will be using in the class:

• Load film (film camera)
• Set the correct film ISO (film speed) on the camera
• Focus the camera
• Use the camera's light meter and/or automatic functions to obtain a good exposure
• Take a photograph in normal daylight
• Take a photograph using electronic flash
• Rewind and unload the film (film camera)

Equipment Needed for This Course

Most agencies use digital cameras. Eventually, all agencies will switch to digital photography. Therefore, you may want to use a digital camera for this course. If you choose to use a digital camera for this course, you must use a camera that has all the features necessary to complete all the assignments. Most "point-and-shoot" digital cameras are not suitable for this course. For this course digital cameras must:

DIGITAL CAMERA FEATURES REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE
• Have a manual exposure mode with a maximum shutter speed of 15 seconds or longer
• Have one or more of the following automatic modes: S, A, Tv, or Av
• Have a removable electronic flash with a remote cord
• And you must provide high quality photographic prints for your notebook (you can print the yourself with a high quality printer or have them printed at a store)


Simple digital cameras that can be operated in manual and/or automatic modes are best for this course. Cameras that can ONLY be operated in PROGRAM mode are not acceptable since many of the photography exercises during the class require techniques that cannot be accomplished in a program mode. Also, some students who bring advanced digital cameras find it difficult to do all the required techniques since some techniques require they override the advanced functions of the camera. Such advanced digital cameras should only be used in the class if you have a good working knowledge of the camera and its advanced functions.

A short list of digital cameras that would be acceptable for this course

DIGITAL CAMERAS -- Required equipment and supplies for class
• Digital camera with lens (digital cameras are acceptable if they have the features needed do all of the assignments--see above)
• Locking cable release
• Supplemental electronic flash (not a flash built in the camera)
• Extra batteries for the electronic flash
• Extra camera battery(s)

DIGITAL CAMERAS -- Highly recommended equipment for class
• Wide angle lens (if your camera has a zoom lens the zoom lens will usus ally be adequate)
• Close-up lens or device (such as close-up filters or extension tubes)
• Remote cord for electronic flash (for operating the flash when it is off the camera)
• Tripod
• Owner's manuals for the camera and electronic flash

If you have a good quality 35mm film camera it can be used for this course. Everything you learn on a film camera can be transferred to a digital camera, so it is fine to learn on a 35mm camera. Also, if you find the cost of digital cameras to be too high, you can usually find a very good 35mm film camera, especially a used 35mm camera, for a reasonable price. Many camera stores take trade-ins and have a supply good quality used 35mm cameras that have been traded in as customers switch to digital cameras.

35mm FILM CAMERA FEATURES REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE
• Have a manual exposure mode
• Have one or more of the following automatic modes: S, A, Tv, or Av
• Have a removable electronic flash with a remote cord
• And you must provide high quality photographic prints for your notebook


Simple 35mm cameras that can be operated in manual and/or automatic modes are best for this course. Cameras that can ONLY be operated in PROGRAM mode are not acceptable since many of the photography exercises during the class require techniques that cannot be accomplished in a program mode. Also, some students who bring advanced electronic 35mm cameras find it difficult to do all the required techniques since some techniques require they override the advanced functions of the camera. Such advanced electronic cameras should only be used in the class if you have a good working knowledge of the camera and its advanced functions.

35mm FILM CAMERAS -- Required equipment and supplies for class
• 3 rolls of 24 exposure color daylight film, ISO 100 or 200
• 1 roll of 24 exposure black and white film
• 35mm camera with lens
• Locking cable release
• Supplemental electronic flash (not a flash built in the camera)
• Extra batteries for the electronic flash
• Extra camera battery(s)

35mm FILM CAMERAS -- Highly recommended equipment for class
• Wide angle lens (if your camera has a zoom lens the zoom lens will usually be adequate)
• Close-up lens or device (such as close-up filters or extension tubes)
• Remote cord for electronic flash (for operating the flash when it is off the camera)
• Tripod
• Owner's manuals for the camera and electronic flash

Class Text

The required text for the class is Crime Scene Photography, by Steven Staggs (2005, softbound, 228 pp. ISBN 1-889315-67-2, LawTech Custom Publishing, San Clemente, CA, suggested retail price $58.00). It is NOT available in the UCR Bookstore. Instead it is available for on-line purchase ONLY from the publisher http://www.lawtechpublishing.com/ (select "SPECIALTY TITLES " from the menu), or by calling 1-800-498-0911 ext. 5

NOTE: The instructor will not have copies of the book available in class. The book must be ordered from the publisher.

Owners' Manuals

If you do not have an owner's manual for the camera you will be using in the class, you might find one through one of the following links:

• Magic Lantern Guides
• Instruction Manuals for Cameras and Photographic Equipment from Finger Lakes Photo Books
• Instruction Manuals from Manuals 2 Go

Basic Photography Tips

The Crime Scene Photography course is not a basic photography course. It will be to your advantage to have a basic knowledge of photography before you start the Crime Scene Photography course. The following links have some good information on basic photography:

• Photo.Net by Philip Greenspun
  
• Basic Photography Guide by Robert Slade
  
• Crime Scene and Evidence Photography

Contacting the Instructor

Steven Staggs
steve@crimesceneresources.com