ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 5

Determining the Time and Day of Photography
Levi, JA
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Photography Laboratory, Israel National Police HQ,

Levin, N
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Photography Laboratory, Israel National Police HQ,

Volkov, N
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Photography Laboratory, Israel National Police HQ,

Novoselsky, Y
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Photography Laboratory, Israel National Police HQ,

(Received 31 December 1998; accepted 29 March 1999)

Abstract

Photographs taken by crime victims and perpetrators are at times important evidence. Their time of photography may also affect their value as such. Three methods of determining when a picture was taken by using the content of the picture are presented. The methods utilize solar direction—measured from shadows in the photograph, identifying flowering wild plants and correlating cloudiness with meteorological observations. Solar direction is the most accurate and involved method and therefore is the main part of this paper. A case using all three methods is described.

Keywords:
forensic science, photography, date, shadow, clouds, flowering, plant

Paper ID: JFS14650J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14650J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.