Today we did the second part of the Forensic Photopraphy component of the course. We started by going up to the high speed gun range. Lenny showed us all of the equipment that is used to take pictures of projectiles exiting a gun barrel. Once we were familiarized with the equipment groups of three took turns helping Lenny take pictures while he fired a 40 caliber gun while the others watched from behind protective glass. I was in the first group and was in charge of opening the shutter while Michelle controled the lights and Jessica observed. Once a few groups had taken pictures of just the projectile exiting the barrel, we started to place different targets in front of the gun to see what effect it would have on different materials. This first target was a snowman we made out of play dough. Once we shot it with the gun we picked up the piece which consisted of only the feet, head and hat, the body had been completely obliterated. We looked at the picture and it was so intersting to see the path the bullet have followed. Next we tried four differently colored crayons lined up. The picture showed the tops and bottoms of the crayons in pretty much the exact same position as they started but the middle (where the bullet had passed) was just full of multicolored specks. Finaly, we decided to place a piece of chalk in front of a playing card to see if we could observe GSR patterns on the card. The picture was incredible, there was so much blue chalk particles in the bullet path that you could barely see the projectile. We found the card and saw that it had been partialy ripped and was covered in blue chalk particles. After that Lenny took a group picture of us at the other end of the range and we headed back to the auditorium for the lecture. Heidi talked to us about using alternate light sources to enhance photographs to see all sorts of things that aren't visible or are poorly visible by the naked eye. Things like faded or removed tattoos as well as figerprints and different inks used to forge checks. After lunch Lenny shoed us all how to use the equipment that comes with a basic camera kit including the flash, lenses, batteries and the camera itself. Once we had all tried out taking pictures of bones, our group headed to the bone lab to work on our cases. We started by observing cranial features to estimate biological affinity. Once we had finished observing the skull it was time to pack the bones up and head back to the auditorium and catch the bus home. Tomorrow our group is starting in the autopsy room while the other group works in the bone room soour group is quite excited and hoping that there are some interesting cases!!