The title of the book was initially 'The 'i' of a CSI' alongside the image of my eye (which is still on the front cover). However it was thought that it would give too obvious a clue as to the concept of the book. After much deliberation 'The Devil Is In The Detail' was chosen for its play on words and also indicates something that is not immediately obvious to the lay person. That is that CSI work is all about capturing detail and things that cannot often be easily seen with the naked eye, such as evidence like hairs/fibres/fingerprints or DNA. For a CSI the devil in the detail is finding it, enhancing and recovering it.
Introduction
Any written introduction to the book was intentionally left out to avoid compromising its content and meaning, leaving its meaning to the thoughts of the viewer. The paragraph describing evidence by Kirk which can now be found at the back, was initially at the front of the book but was moved for the same reasons stated above.
Order of Images
The cover image is of my eye which seemed apropriate as the book is about how I see things as a result of my CSI work. A ring flash was used and then the image was faded in post production in order to blend in better with the light grey colour of the book's cover. This image was taken with a Nikon D80 as I also had access to a x4 close up filter to attach to it.
As stated earlier the cataliyst for the book's concept came from a comment made by Steve regarding the damaged gate in Manchester, so I thought it only appropriate that image should be the first in the book.
I cannot confirm that this is the image I took on that first day of the course as I have been back there many times since. I find this image not only shows the damage to the gate very well from this angle but that it is also aesthetically pleasing. The bars of the gate reflecting the light and its shape leading the eye into the picture.
Glass
The most common evidence by far to be found at most crime scenes is glass of all types, whether as a result of criminals breaking into premises, intentional damage or vehicle collisions/theft. Initially there were many more images of broken glass, however although it meant that the concept was not obvious, it had the potential of leading the viewer completley down the wrong road. Which, although that is part of the idea, is too far removed from other aspects of the book. It was, however important to include images that the general public may pass every day without realising their significance.
Burglary
The above images show damage caused by people attempting to break into premises. The top image is a window leading into a church, the one below it, into someone's house. It was important to show the result of burglary as it accounts for 85-90% of a CSI's workload.
Criminal Damage
The damage in the two images above are caused intentionally probably by bored youths. It is a crime and goes by the name of 'criminal damage' for which you can get convicted. With the telephone box I blurred all but the broken window post production as it was not that obvious. The image above was part of a factory and these windows were high up so it was necessary to straighten converging verticals, which were converging even more than they still do.
Vehicle Crime
Vehicle crime is a massive problem in the UK with a vehicle being used in crime or being stolen or stolen from every minute of the day. The top image of a windscreen is the result of a vehicle being used to ram into a shop to gain access. In the center image the vehicle has been rolled and shows the smashed sunroof and the lower image shows that even deterants such as alarms do not always work. It was when photographing these images that I used the two Speedlights activated wirelessly from my camera. Due to the light reflecting off the fractured glass it took several attempts to acheive the final results.
Suicide
During my time as a CSI I had to photograph many suicides. One of the main reasons for this is that until a post-mortem has been carried out it is not known exactly how the person died. There is always the chance that it could be murder disguised as suicide. Initial photographs are vital as it would obviously be impossible after the PM. There are many impliments that can be used to facilitate suicide. I decided to include some of the more common types that may not always be obvious.
In some suicides bottles of pills are found nearby which may or may not have anything to do with the suicide itself. This image was taken in the studio on black cloth with Canon 5dmk2. The sheet which I have seen used as an impliment of hanging was taken on a bed next to a window flooded in sunlight.
Fingerprints/DNA
Fingerprints and DNA are by far the most useful evidence types regarding identification. They can be found in the most unlikley of places. Fingerprints can be recovered from almost any surface you can think of and DNA can be recovered from things such as envelopes that have been licked and even fingerprints themselves from single skin cells left behind.
Both these images were taken at reconstructed crime scenes with one light source, a Metz 45. In the book the empty coke can is opposite an image of a spilt liquid. To the uninitiated the liquid could be coke.
I decided to include images of fingerprints and an image of a hand swipe in blood. However it is not immediately obvious that these are depict the importance of fingerprints.
Grafitti
Grafitti is a crime as it defaces others property and was often a photographic task I was asked to carry out. It can be found in most towns bytaking a walk around. My favourite walk is along a local canal where grafitti can be found under road bridges. I have taken many photographs of this grafitti and so knew where to find it and when the light would not cast too much shadow.
Final Images
These are the final two images in the book. The scales were photographed in a house lit only by sunlight which gives a pleasing effect. They could be seen as the scales of justice except that in this case they have been used to weigh drugs.
In this, the last image in the book I wanted to show how an ordinary street scene could be seen in a different light. In order to do this I had to add a certain amount of writing to tell how I see the image. I had many street scenes from which to choose however this one is not too crowded and I like the elevated viewpoint. It does also contain what could be seen as 'typical' victims and offenders, although in reality they are indiscernible.
No comments:
Post a Comment