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Evidentiary Photographs – AFI-LLC – May 2024                                                  2 of 6

        Agency Information & Principals' CVs - Expert Analysis / Consultations
                             Current information on our primary agency website for services, forms, and CVs.
                             -- Your Investigators - www.DeathCaseReview.com/Principals-Bios
                             -- Dean's CV - http://dab-cv.DeathCaseReview.com (updated March 2024)
                             -- Karen's CV - http://ksb-cv.DeathCaseReview.com (updated March 2024)

                             We bridge the crime scene and autopsy with Expert Medicolegal Consultations in Civil, Criminal
                             and Insurance Interpleader litigation, as well as Family Questioned Deaths. Forensic and
                             Medicolegal Death Investigations reviewing and analyzing "the totality of the circumstances of
                             the fatal or non-fatal event and the competency of the official investigation, with respect to
                             death investigation protocol and standards."

                          This 3-minute video will show you, “How we can help you and your clients – today!”
                                                https://youtu.be/7auubrNZYb4

                                              Together We’re Better!

                                        May Commentary: Evidentiary Photographs

                                          Originals vs. Everything Else (including PDFs and PPTs)

                                          We have previously highlighted the importance of knowing details of a
                                          photographic image – EXIF data and file properties, and how deeper forensic
                                          analysis can uncover false photographic evidence. Here we share why anything
                                          other than original image files is not evidence, including for courtroom
                                          demonstrative purposes. We will also share additional resources important to
        image formats, what is ‘original’ and the importance of having the best photographic evidence – not copies, prints, or
        other non-native formats of the original image files.

        This isn’t a new topic for us, we have covered it before. We also refer to our April newsletter commentary, Photographic
        Documentation to Presentation Images (Original, Scanned, b/w, Embedded, PDF and Converted).

        Refresher - It’s all about the Hex, EXIF & Metadata
        In litigation a non-law enforcement photograph a reported assault, with no chain of evidence to verify the image, may
        be ‘fake’. One initial clue is the image’s native metadata has been erased, or otherwise manipulated, and as a result the
        authenticity may be unconfirmed or further disputed.

        Refresher – What is an Original and Best Evidence Image File
        Sharing digital media files is still best by physical media – flashdrive most often, due to the size of files, or by CD / DVD.
        Common, particularly since early 2020 events, are by online services – such as DropBox, OneDrive, and case
        management software, etc. On the note of case management software – it is important to confirm no changes are made
        to the files by the provider – such as compressing for space.

        Tip – Federal Rules of Evidence
        From our course, Basic Forensic Photography (www.InvestigativeCourses.com) we remind our clients and colleagues, the
        Federal Rules of Evidence (adopted by most states) addresses digital photography, and states:
        An “original” of a writing or recording is the writing or recording itself or any counterpart intended to have the same
        effect by a person executing or issuing it. An “original” of a photograph includes the negative or any print therefrom. If
        data are stored in a computer or similar device, any printout or other output readable by sight, shown to reflect the data
        accurate, is an “original”.





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