FROM THE FIELD
July–August 2015 129NICK CUBBIN; NATSUMI PENBERTHY
Wading in
RIVER GUARDIANSScene of the crime
HOW TO CATCH A KILLERGETTING TO THE bottom of why Australia
is at the forefront of forensics research was a
grisly task for science writer Fiona MacDonald.
As part of her investigation, she found herself
(above, at left) alongside forensics lecturer
Dr Val Spikmans at the University of Western
Sydney’s Crime Scene House, where police
offi cers learn how to collect evidence. “Walking
into the Crime Scene House and seeing the legs
of the murder victim dummy sticking out
through a doorway, surrounded with blood, was
pretty frightening,” says Fiona. “But we’ve come
so far from the days of fi ngerprinting and basic
DNA tests; I can’t believe anyone risks getting
away with murder these days.” And did the
thought cross her mind? “I’m clearly not
planning to kill anyone,” she says. “But after
spending weeks researching how police catch
criminals, you can’t help but think about how
you might outsmart the science.”44 80PHOTOGRAPHER RANDY LARCOMBE had to get his feet wet
for our story on the problem of river red gum management in the
southern Murray-Darling Basin. It was a mission that took him to
the far reaches of isolated wetlands.
Pictured here, at right, with ecologist
Keith Ward, they had travelled up a creek
to get shots of some red gum saplings, a
particularly challenging place to operate.
“Water is one thing you don’t really want
around studio fl ashes,” says Randy. “And
forgetting that you have waders on and
squatting down so that the waders fi ll up
with water is always fun too!” Despite
the conditions and a close call with a
snake, Randy says: “As a photographer
I get to go to the most amazing places
with people who are experts in their
fi eld. These interactions with both
people and the environment are
easily the best part of the job.”