Central Annals of Forensic Research and Analysis
Michael Shapter · 2014
This article describes a classification system for digital images wherein three states are outlined depending on the image's relationship with the external world (the original scene or image of subject matter). This system can be applied to all photographs and digital images but is most relevant to medical and forensic pictures. The classification system relates to the veracity of photography in its broadest sense. The system has been developed to facilitate a discussion on the nature of altered images and their consequences to the viewer and user, and the situations in which pictures are presented for viewing, and to provide a baseline for definitions. The three categories are referential, post-referential and non-referential. The defining criterion is the point-to-point connectivity between subject and depicted object.