NCJ Number
139759
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 6 Dated: (November 1992) Pages: 1466-1478
Date Published
1992
Length
13 pages
Annotation
After a historical review of ultraviolet (UV) illumination in photography, with attention to the forensic aspects of UV photography as it relates to patterned injury on human skin, this article discusses the theory underlying ultraviolet illumination of skin wounds and the equipment required for this type of imaging.
Abstract
UV radiation penetrates the skin layers less deeply than visible light and much less deeply than infrared radiation; therefore, there is much less scatter of the reflected rays. This results in a greater degree of definition of surface detail. Reflective UV photography produces an image of a wound that previously could not be seen unaided by the human eye. It can also record and document the wound-healing process and can often reveal old, healed wounds. Because of the unique products of UV photography, photographic documentation of a wound pattern is not complete without it. In addition to a discussion of the properties of UV light applied to human skin and the resultant products of UV photography of skin wounds, the article considers the safe use of UV radiation, the lens and camera to use in UV photography, focus shift, film, lighting methods, and photographic methods. 10 figures and 32 references