Developing Rules of Thumb in Video and Photographic Analysis
A common request for those of us who work in video analysis (whether privately or for a law enforcement or government agency) is to enhance a license plate or compare the person (face, article of clothing, etc.) in a video to a photograph of a person. When is there...
Continue ReadingRaw vs. TIFF for Digital Camera Capture
Someone from a major law enforcement agency recently asked me for my opinion regarding the best choice between capturing raw or TIFF files from a digital camera. His concern was that the raw workflow is slower, results in duplicate images (the raw original files and the working TIFF files),...
Continue ReadingForensic Photographic Analysis – Reverse Projection
Some cases are unique – and this will describe one of those. In this case plaintiff retained me to determine if a photograph of a part was broken. The part was a water jet from a bathtub spa. The person using the spa was injured, and the reason proffered...
Continue ReadingCountering Bad Science
When attorneys get a copy of opposing counsel’s expert reports, sometimes they are quite surprised by what they read – it’s just bad science. And, in these cases they will then retain their own expert to counter, and possibly quash, the other experts opinion. I’ve been retained in numerous...
Continue Reading“I need to tell others about you!”
I met with an investigator on a case last week to discuss her need for Forensic Video Analysis in a homicide case. During out meeting, she asked about the other work I do in photographic analysis and photography services. When I finished, she asked me for a handful of...
Continue ReadingExpert Credentials
One of the first things that I get asked for when an attorney calls is a copy of my CV. An expert’s CV can tell you a lot, but when looking at a forensic photographer, photographic analyst, or video analyst, how should it be evaluated to make sure that...
Continue ReadingIn Photography and Video – We Want the Original Images
It always surprises me how often retaining attorneys send me digital copies of scanned color laser prints of photos in PDF format, or transcoded video files to do an analysis. Sometimes these images resemble their originals – sometimes they are a far cry from them. To do the best enhancement,...
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 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 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...
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