What you need to know

The new era of digital photography allows anyone to purchase a camera capable of taking “high-resolution” photographs, yet the ability to properly light an injury or other difficult subject matter – and then accurately reproduce those images – requires special skills, knowledge, and equipment.

More importantly, the world of digital imagery now enables anyone who has the appropriate software to manipulate and alter images.  Providing testimony that the photographs entered into evidence represented a “true and accurate representation” was once all that was needed; the integrity of a photograph could always be verified by looking at a negative, and the negative could not be altered without obvious signs of tampering.

Today’s method of digital image capture is much more complicated.  Unlike film, exposure latitude is more limited and much more demanding.  Furthermore, the majority of cameras on the market today capture images in formats that can easily be altered; with the proper skill and software, the original image file can be changed without detection.  Without negatives, the ability to prove an image is a “true and accurate representation” can be problematic.

Proper forensic techniques for digital imaging involve using equipment that provides a digital negative, known as a RAW image format.  Like film, final images are “developed” from the digital negative with adjustments only to color balance, density, and contrast.  The photographer is able to not only testify as to the accuracy of the representation, but can also prove the accuracy by producing the original “digital negative” for examination.

With more than 30 years experience in evidence collection and courtroom testimony, and by using equipment that produces digital negatives, images captured by Eric Johnson will not only provide a true representation, he can also validate the integrity of those images with absolute certainty.