Photographing Firearms

[Jessica]

I have been using dome lighting and axial lighting techniques to photograph prints on firearms prior to processing. Does anyone know of any other photographic techniques we can use?

[George Reis]

It depends on the nature of the print and the nature of the background. For instance, different techniques would be used to photograph a print on a chrome gun than on blue steel. The key to any fingerprint photography is to maximize contrast, and control shadows and reflections. Sometimes this is done by reflecting white onto the surface (such as with a dome, tent or reflector), sometimes by reflecting black onto the surface with a black reflector, sometime with directional light (such as axial lighting or with oblique lighting).

I'm sorry for the general nature of this reply, but the general principles of light and photography will apply to any photography that you do - just think about what you want to do to maximize the contrast.

George