Writing Captions

A picture is worth
a 1,000 words, but
it still needs a
caption.
Cambridge Dictionary
WHY LEARNING TO WRITE A
CAPTION??
 On the job, the reporter and
photographer discuss how best to
get the shot, based on the reporter’s
research and ideas on how he or she will
write the story. The photographer
meanwhile, also gets to write.
The caption, or cutline, is the one-
to two-sentence story under the photo,
which helps to tell the story.
CAPTIONS SHOULD BE:

ACTIVE

COMPLETE

INTERESTING
An effective caption:
 Answers the who, what, where,
when, why and how of every photo
 Grabs the reader’s attention
 Is always factual
 Provides information for the busy
reader who may not read the
related story
Caption Guideline #1: Choosing

Choose strong photographs

with storytelling appeal.
These photos were taken at the same event.
Which one tells a more interesting story?
CAPTION GUIDELINE #2:
Lead-In

Consider an impact lead of one or two

words or a short phrase to begin the
caption and establish its relationship
with the photo.
POSSIBLE
LEAD-INS:

Putting her best

foot forward.

All clear!

The end
is in sight.
CAPTION GUIDELINE #3:
Identification

Completely and accurately identify

and describe the action and reaction
of the photo (without stating the
obvious).
OBVIOUS: She is running over
a hurdle.

NOT OBVIOUS:
- Her name and grade
- Details of this specific race
(including the result)
- Where and when the
competition took place
- The opponent.

CAPTION: All Clear! In her last

meet as a middle school
runner, eighth grader Nan
Pearson clears the last hurdle
in the 100 meters. She won
the race against South Middle
School on September 20 and
finished the season undefeated
in this event.
 CAPTION GUIDELINE #4:
Present Tenses
Use present tense and active voice for
the sentence that captures the action of
the photo. This is traditionally the first
sentence.
Warming up closer Ryan Rhodes, senior catcher
Mark Myers works the bullpen in the home game
against Universal High School on April 28.
CAPTION GUIDELINE #5:
Past Tenses

Use past tense for

subsequent/following sentences.
These sentences add background
information and context.
Warming up closer Ryan Rhodes, senior catcher
Mark Myers works the bullpen in the home game
against Universal High School on April 28. Myers
entered the game with Rhodes in the top of
the seventh inning, and Rhodes earned a
save with the 3-2 win.
CAPTION GUIDELINE #6:
Direct Quote

A direct quote can also be used in

making a caption.
It provides human interest appeal
as well as more valued
information.
Warming up closer Ryan Rhodes, senior catcher Mark Myers works
the bullpen in the home game against Universal High School on April
28. Myers entered the game with Rhodes in the top of the seventh
inning, where Rhodes earned a save with the 3-2 win. “I’ve waited
all season for a chance to help my team win an important game,
and this win put us into the playoffs,” said Myers.
DO’S FOR WRITING CAPTION
• Use the first three to five words to grab
attention.
• State the obvious without being obvious.
• Use second IDs
• Include the 5 Ws and H.
• Consider what is going on before, during
and after
DO’S FOR WRITING CAPTION

• use visual and specific nouns.

• use active verbs.
• keep the caption factual.
• identify all people, except with crowds.
• proofread, especially names.
What is a Second ID???
Instead of using a subject’s name twice in the caption,
use another label for them – We call this as a second
ID.

SEPTEMBER SUNSET – Mary Jones walked her

baby in the park as the sun set on Manhattan. The
district court judge has been on maternity leave since
August and hopes to return to work in December.

Jones’ second ID is district court judge.

Don’ts for writing captions

• Begin with a person’s title/a

name, unless it is the most
important element.
• State the obvious.
• Use “pictured above” or “shown
here” or similar phrases.
Don’ts for writing captions,
continued
• Use “seems to” or “tries to.” (REMEMBER:
Just write the facts!)
• Pad/advertisement with worthless
information.
• Use gag, joke or cutesy comments.
• Comment, question or talk to the picture.
“Watch out for that truck!”
Identifying the People in your Photos:
If it’s a male and a female – no need to tell us who’s on the
left or right. Their names will tell us.

If it’s two men or two women – ID the one on the left.

“Jane Doe, left, and Barb Jones took their Physics exam
yesterday, just before spring break.

If it’s a group of people – ID up to five people in a photo, left

to right. Sometimes it’s best to ID clockwise.
“Participants included, clockwise from bottom right, Jane
Doe, Barb Jones, Melanie Righteous, etc.
 5W 1H ANALYSIS

WHO: A Chinese man

WHAT: A line of tanks.
WHEN: June 5, 1989
WHERE: Beijing’s Cangan Boulevard in Tiananmen
Square
HOW-WHY: The man attempts to block a line of tanks.

A Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks

heading east on Beijing's Cangan Boulevard in
Tiananmen Square in this June 5, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff
Widener)
Who: Dana Dietl, 13, and brother Beau, 9.
What: Roacuttan (an acne drug)
Where: Pakistan (the origin of the drug)
How-why: They ordered Roaccutan, an acne drug,
over the Internet. Their father is an ex-NYC cop who
runs his own investigation company. He found no
Who: Andy Willner
What: the baykeeper for Hudson-Raritan estuary
When: yesterday.
Where: Passaic River
How-Why: Passaic is coming back after suffering many years of
industrial pollution.
Who: Adriana, 4, Daniel, 7, and Alexandre Martinho, 9
What: The lot behind them is under consideration for construction
of an elementary school. However, a builder wants to erect condos.
When: yesterday.
Where: Newark.
Why-How: Dispute will delay construction of schools. Same
problem exists in many urban districts.
YOU TRY IT
 Look at the photos on the
next slides.
 Write five questions you
would ask the person(s).
 Write a lead-in for the
caption.
PICTURE 1
PICTURE 2
 PICTURE 3
Key word: Nguyen Ngoc Loan
 PICTURE 4
Key word: Little Rock’s Central High
 PICTURE 5
Key word: Indonesia, May 1998
Satu foto jurnalistik paling fenomenal yang terus diingat hingga kini adalah karya
(Alm.) Julian Sihombing, fotografer senior harian Kompas. Kerusuhan 12 Mei 1998
yang melibatkan mahasiswa Trisakti dan mendorong terjadinya Reformasi yang
ditandai dengan runtuhnya Orde Baru dan Soeharto dari jabatan kepresidenannya.
Keadaan mulai memanas saat itu dan Julian Sihombing menolak digantikan
tugasnya dengan Arbain Rambey. Benar saja, kerusuhan pecah sore itu dan
suasana di sana menjadi kacau balau. Tidak tahu lagi mana yang mahasiswa,
polisi, provokator. Semuanya saling merusak satu sama lain. Korban pun mulai
bermunculan dari mahasiswa ataupun polisi anti huru-hara. Julian Sihombing
dengan cerdas menangkap momen. Rizky Rahmawati Pasaribu, panggilannya Kiky,
seorang mahasiswi fakultas hukum Universitas Trisakti yang terpotret tengah
terkapar di tengah kerusuhan. Dengan mata masih terbuka menatap ke atas.
Menjadi satu foto fenomenal yang terus diingat hingga 15 tahun setelahnya. Pada
acara Kick Andy show, Julian mengungkapkan bahwa ia memotret terlebih dahulu
lalu meminta orang-orang di sekitar untuk menolongnya. Memang dilema dalam
keadaan tersebut. Namun jika dia tidak berbuat demikian, dunia tidak akan tahu
apa yang terjadi. Belakangan diketahui Kiky tidak terluka parah. Jurnalis foto
menolong dengan jepretannya. Maka, janganlah kerja mereka dihalangi - Arbain
Rambey
 GROUP PROJECT:
GO DOWN TO STREET, RAISE YOUR AWARENESS!
 Work in a group of 3
 You are about to make a collage (photo album)
 Go around your environment and capture moments
 The photographs should:
- convey the message of raising people’s awareness
- be genuinely shot by your group
- not be a “make up” situation
 Print 10 best photographs and bring it to the class along with all
materials that you will use to make the collage / photo album.
 In class, you will create the photo album with your group by
displaying the photographs on the album and putting a caption
for each photograph.
 Make sure that your audience who open your album will learn
something from your artwork.