Open Letter to Advanced Imaging Magazine
The March, 2010 issue of Advanced Imaging magazine included an article on the use of H.264 compression in security camera systems. I thought the article was interesting, except for a couple of statements that distortion is somehow acceptable in security systems. I sent a letter to the author of...
Continue ReadingTestimony Reviews
When I am scheduled to testify in court, I sometimes notify colleagues in the area and invite them to watch me with the hope that they can provide me with feedback. I’ve done this for a number of years, and have gotten feedback from a few colleagues including Jack...
Continue ReadingReflecting back on 2009
When I think about the past year, and cases I’ve worked, training I’ve received, training I’ve given, there are a few things that stand out. In the arena of cases, I had two unique experiences – A Daubert Hearing in 12/08, and Grand Jury testimony in mid-2009. The Daubert Hearing was...
Continue ReadingPhotoshop Feature Requests
When I present workshops, many people frequently ask for a handful of features. Two of the most popular are improvements to the History Log and getting back the LayerComps to PDF script. Two questions that are raised when these issues are brought up include, “Why is it this way?”...
Continue ReadingReverse Projection Photogrammetry
The Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Video Association (LEVA) held it’s annual conference this week. I was fortunate to attend the two day pre-conference workshop on reverse projection photogrammetry presented by Richard Vorder Bruegge, Walter Bruehs, and Chris Iber, all from the FBI Forensic Audio, Video, and Imaging Analysis...
Continue ReadingUsing Photoshop and Bridge for On-Screen Comparisons
Someone recently posted a question on the CLPEX website regarding on-screen comparisons. This question was specifically about fingerprint comparisons, but the method is the same whether comparing prints, footwear, vehicles, etc. The first step is to determine which images to use (or eliminate). I frequently use Adobe Bridge for this....
Continue ReadingSo, What’s the Story on Resolution?
My post on Synchronizing Video has generated a few comments related to image resolution. Three people, all of whom have a significant background in forensic imaging, have made rather divergent comments. Multiple topics are being addressed, from crime scene, accident and evidence photography to latent print photography to SWGFAST...
Continue ReadingWhat’s Different in Photoshop CS4?
When I wrote the book, Photoshop CS3 for Forensics Professionals, I argued with my editor about the title (I didn’t want to list the version in the title). I included ways to do just about every technique in the book using earlier versions, and it’s so rare that Adobe...
Continue ReadingCertification in Forensic Photography and Imaging
I frequently read Jim Hoerrick’s excellent blog, Forensic Photoshop. In his October 12 post, he brought up the issue of certification, and it prompted me to comment on that topic here. One of Jim’s points is that some certifications are not based on real world issues, and the correct test...
Continue ReadingSynchronizing Video in Forensic Video Analysis
Earlier this year I received a case in which I was asked to “enhance the video” to determine who fired first in a shootout in a strip mall. There was no sound recorded, and there were three camera views recorded at this strip mall. Two views were of the...
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