Photography has long been an important part of archaeology, but drawing has always been required for accurate recording of trench details.  Digital photography and computer tools have now improved the process.  The archaeologist can see photographic results almost instantly and the photos can be quickly transferred to a computer in the field.  By placing targets in the area of interest and recording their precise locations, photometric software can correct the photograph for lens and perspective distortions.  A drawing can then be made on the computer directly from the digital image.  The process is so fast that errors in the process can be discovered and corrected before the targets are removed.

The picture below, right, shows the trench bottom prepared for photography, with the targets in place around the floor of the trench.  The absolute location of one target were precisely measured.  Two relative positions of each target were measured so that the coordinates of each target can be calculated by trigonometry.   The measurements are recorded for input to the pre-processing and photometric programs.  The actual documentation photograph was without the sun to assure even lighting of the surface.  Below left, we see Tommaso taking a photo of the shaded trench from a ladder.  the digital camera lets him see the result immediately so he can adjust the exposure if necessary.  The computer for photo processing is set up in a nearby outbuilding of the estate.