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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Vehicle Accident Photography
Jonathan Kirby, Photographer
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Whistler | BC | Canada | Posted: 2:01 PM on 12.19.06 |
->> I was just wondering if anyone knew where I could find guidelines for photographing an auto-vehcile accident that would ensure such factors as focal lengths and the angle the photo is shot from would so photographs would not look biased.
For example skid marks of a vehicle if shot from an angle and certain focal length might make it appear that one vehicle was too far over in a lane or something similar? Sorry i it's vague just thought I would throw it out there.
Thanks! |
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Carl Auer, Photographer
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Eagle River | AK | USA | Posted: 2:43 PM on 12.19.06 |
->> Jonathan, what type of photography are we talking about? Insurance, news or police investigation? When I was in a car accident and I was taking photos of my wrecked car, I wanted it to look as bad as possible for my insurance, but depending on the car, type of accident, and lens choice can add or take away from the intensity. My accident was a head on collision and I used both low and high angles with a wide angle lens. I also used a telephoto and zoomed in for detailed damage shots. The few on scene accident shots I have taken I usually use a wide angle, 17-40 and attempt to get all involved, plus skid marks or any other "evidence" to the accident involved in a few shots. Police will usually use a short zoom, like a 24-70, and be more precise, using straight edges and rulers to gage size of evidence and location, but this is combined with a diagram of the accident with labels stating something like "p-1" to reference a evidence photo for that part of the diagram.
In your example, I would say a higher angle with a lens wide enough to get both lanes with the skid marks visible and include a car in the correct position to show where traffic normally or legally is compared to the skid marks. |
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Tony Sirgedas, Photographer
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Rodrigo Pena, Photographer
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Palm Desert | CA | USA | Posted: 3:58 PM on 12.19.06 |
->> Jonathan, back in the old days of film, my instructor taught me that the 50mm lens was the human eye equivalent. I don't know if this helps, but perhaps it would give you a beginning. If you shoot digital, you could perhaps find the equivalent lens, depending upon how much magnification your particular camera has. If you use a digital camera and your magnification is 1.3x that of film-based cameras, then a 38 or 39 mm lens might be the equivalent of a 50mm lens. I have no science to back this up, just using my human-based logic.
If you had a camera with a magnification of 1.6x, then a 31-32mm lens might be the equivalent.
I hope this helps.
Rodrigo |
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Patrick Dove, Photographer
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San Angelo | TX | USA | Posted: 4:32 PM on 12.19.06 |
| ->> Jonathan, if you are shooting news photos I would suggest carrying both wide angle and a nice zoom like a 70-200mm. I carry two cameras, both mounted with one or the other. Really the best way to determine how to shoot (news) car accidents is to roll up on a few and get a feel for how the police and paramedics handle the scene. Main thing....stay out of the way of police and paramedics if you ever hope to have access to another spot news situation. Once fire and rescue personel know who you are they will usually leave you alone and know that you will probably need a statement from them. |
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Jonathan Kirby, Photographer
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Whistler | BC | Canada | Posted: 10:31 PM on 12.19.06 |
->> Thanks for all the help.
looks like I might be going to court over an accident I was in and the other person I was in the accident with has photos of skid marks making them appear I was over the centre line so I am just trying to make sure his photos won't stand in court.
Thanks |
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DJ Werner, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Beaufort | NC | USA | Posted: 11:22 AM on 12.20.06 |
->> EPIC is the photog organization for this
I too was taught the 50 was the lens for this - in film days-
DJ |
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Jonathan Palmer, Photographer
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Decatur | AL | United States | Posted: 9:47 PM on 12.21.06 |
| ->> Jonathan I have responded to a few accidents this year and have asked the crime scene photogs if they want to use my lenses and they tell me that they have to use a 50 mm as to not distort the reality of the scene for court cases like yours. if you could prove that the angle was too distorted the images may not be submissible. |
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Jonathan Kirby, Photographer
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Whistler | BC | Canada | Posted: 9:22 AM on 12.22.06 |
->> Ahh cool, thanks a lot appreciate that!
I think I have everything straightened out and upon a couple of mock re-enactments it turns out(at least that's what I hope the judge thinks too) that the way my vehicle was headed and the direction I was hit would have pushed me to where those skid marks are, over the centre line.
Thankfully the other guy still has to explain why he fish-tailed on both sides of the road, 3X before runnning into me. |
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Brent Drinkut, Photographer
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Frankfort | IN | USA | Posted: 10:00 AM on 12.22.06 |
->> Well if they get the photo used in court try and see if you can have one of the digital copies. Open the photo up in photo mechanic and it gives you all these nice features such as:
Date
Time
Lens (mm)
and a bunch of other stuff that isnt really relevent to them distorting the photo. If it was a good investegator I am sure they could figre out where the person stood to obtain the photo. |
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