Photojournalism 101
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This document provides guidelines for writing effective photo captions as a journalism teacher. It recommends that captions be short (around 15 words), directly related to and supplement the photo without just describing what is seen. Captions should answer who, what, where, when and why about the photo and identify people accurately. Captions should match the mood of the photo and not contradict what is depicted. Standard caption format includes noun, verb, location, date. The document also lists the credentials and awards of the author as a photographer.
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Photojournalism 101
- 1. Mr. Jeffrey G. Delfin Senior High School Teacher III Cabangan National High School July 23, 2017
- 2. Is about the entire process of: finding the object to photograph, taking the photograph, processing the image and presenting the image.
- 3. Should have a working knowledge of his outfit – camera, lens, and film; Should know a little of art and be possessed with a notion of contrast , angle and shapes; Must have a nose for drama, oddity, rarity, action and for human interest stories;
- 4. Must be acquainted with the important as well as with the notorious people who break into the news often; Must have diplomacy and tact when covering risky assignments like fires, riots, rallies, and demonstrations; and Must be acquainted with the libel laws, since libel suits can also proceed from pictures.
- 5. A caption is the text of body type, accompanying photos or art work or any pictorial illustration. It is sometimes called cutline or underline. The title or explanatory matter above the illustration is called overline.
- 6. Caption should be closely related to the picture so that the reader may be able to take in picture and caption at a glance. This explains why the caption should be underneath the picture when there are other materials on the page. The caption can be at the side when caption and picture are isolated.
- 7. All rules in news printing apply to caption writing. Captions should be written in short pithy sentences, say an average of 15 words for a sentence.
- 8. Captions should supplement what is seen. They are not captions if they merely tell the reader what he can see. A caption of a picture showing President Arroyo speaking should not say, “President Arroyo Speaking.” See to it that the caption supplements the pictorial information briefly.
- 9. The caption should not contradict the photo, e.g., Boy Scout planting tree seedlings but the boys scouts are looking at the camera smiling and not planting. Don’t begin caption “Photo shows” especially if it really doesn’t or “ In the Photo are..” This is totally unnecessary.
- 10. The basic questions every caption must tell of its pictures are: Who, What, Where, When and Why. Who are in the picture? What are they doing in it? When are they doing? Give the full Christian name or first name to identify everyone in the picture and be accurate. This is important, but which of course cannot
- 11. be done for crowd scenes. When you name people in the caption, make it clear who is who. A gay (happy) picture should have a gay caption. A somber (serious or sad) picture should not make weak jokes. Match the caption with the mood of the picture. This is a question of judgment.
- 12. Don’t rewrite the news story as a caption. This merely wastes space. A caption is conversational. It should exploit the picture potential interest, e. g., President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Filipiniana dress while Vice President Noli De Castro in military attire. These should be mentioned in the caption.
- 13. A standard cutline is written as such: (Noun) (verb) (direct object) during (proper event name) at (proper noun location) in (city) on (day of the week), (month) (date), (year). Why or How.
- 14. Example: Dallas firefighters (noun) battle (present-tense verb) a fire (direct object) at the Fitzhugh Apartments (proper noun location) near the intersection of Fitzhugh Avenue and Monarch Street in Dallas (city) on Thursday (day of the week), July (month) 1 (date), 2004 (year).
- 30. JEFFREY G. DELFIN • Gawad Silip Alagad ng Sining Awardee - Visual Arts Photography (2017) •Top 30 winner (Culture Category) in the “Time Magazine Submit Your World”-Asia Pacific Video Contest 2015. •3rd place in Pinoy Lens In Climate Change sponsored by United Nations' World Food Programme-Philippines (2013) •2nd Place in Readers' Digest Asia Philippine's Love Photo Contest (2012)