Raising the U.S. flag atop Mt. Suribachi, Joe Rosenthal, Feb.
23, 1945
Most arent.
Hugs Mike Stimpson
Context helps.
H8W 2007
Eddie Adams, AP 1968
Context can elevate an image.
Good Captions provide context.
German woman carrying a few possessions runs from burning
building in Seigburg, Germany. Fire started by Nazi saboteur. April
13, 1945. T4c. Troy A. Peters, USA. (Roberts Commission)
"Then came the big day when we marched into Germany- right
through the Siegfried Line." 1945. Army. (OWI)
Exact Date Shot Unknown
Whats in a caption?
The 5 Ws
Who, What, When, Where, Why
How
Your byline
It can get a bit more complicated.
Writing good captions
Write in complete sentences.
Research if you dont know.
Remember the ABCs:
Be Accurate.
Be Brief.
Be Clear.
Who?
Who is the subject of the caption?
Person(s): Provide their rank, full name, title or occupation and
complete military unit.
Object(s): Provide the equipment name and model, ship name and hull
number, name and model of aircraft or vehicles.
Who is the subject?
Combat-rubber-reconnaissance-craft with Marines of the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) aboard are recovered at the stern
gate of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD
49). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jane
Doe/Released)
Combat-rubber-reconnaissance-craft with Marines of the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) aboard are recovered at the stern
gate of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD
49). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jane
Doe/Released)
Who is the subject?
Combat-rubber-reconnaissance-craft with Marines of the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) aboard are recovered at the stern
gate of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD
49). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jane
Doe/Released)
Who is the subject?
U.S. Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit return
to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD49) via
combat rubber reconnaissance craft while operating in the
Philippine Sea Sept. 19, 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass
Communication Specialist Seaman Jane Doe/Released)
ID by placement
U.S. Army Spc. Cornelius Miller, Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment supply clerk, from
Miami, Fla., and U.S. Army Spc. Anthony De Leon, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment,
communications specialist from Harlington, Texas, inventory radios
to be sent out to their battalions companies Sept. 16, at Bagram
Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jon
Doe/Released)
ID by placement
U.S. Army Spc. Cornelius Miller, Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment supply clerk, from
Miami, Fla., and U.S. Army Spc. Anthony De Leon, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment,
communications specialist from Harlington, Texas, inventory radios
to be sent out to their battalions companies Sept. 16, at Bagram
Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jon
Doe/Released)
ID by placement
Miller
U.S. Army Spc. Cornelius Miller, Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment supply clerk, from
Miami, Fla., and U.S. Army Spc. Anthony De Leon, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment,
communications specialist from Harlington, Texas, inventory radios
to be sent out to their battalions companies Sept. 16, at Bagram
Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jon
Doe/Released)
ID by placement
Miller
U.S. Army Spcs. Anthony De Leon, left, a communications specialist,
and Cornelius Miller, a supply clerk, both with Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment,
inventory radios at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 16, 2010.
The radios were being sent out to various companies in the 1st
Battalion. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jon Doe/Released)
What?
What is the subject doing?
Describe the action in the photo. Be specific, but be careful not
to state the obvious.
Use active voice.
VOLK FIELD, Wis. ??? Royal Netherlands air force Sgt 1st Class
Isabella De Boer, a nurse in the Royal Netherlands air force,
prepares a patient with burns covering his body for aeromedical
evacuation during the overseas contingency operation exercise
portion of the Patriot Exercise 2010 at Volk Field, Wis., July 18.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Sara Smith/Released)
VOLK FIELD, Wis. ??? Royal Netherlands air force Sgt 1st Class
Isabella De Boer, a nurse in the Royal Netherlands air force,
prepares a patient with burns covering his body for aeromedical
evacuation during the overseas contingency operation exercise
portion of the Patriot Exercise 2010 at Volk Field, Wis., July 18.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Sara Smith/Released)
Royal Netherlands Air Force Sgt. 1st Class Isabella De Boer, a
nurse, prepares a dummy simulating a burn victim for aeromedical
evacuation during the overseas contingency operation exercise
portion of Patriot Exercise 2010 at Volk Field, Wis., July 18,
2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sara Smith/Released)
When?
When is it happening?
Provide the complete date and, if pertinent, the time.
Dont use on before the date.
Spell out months with fewer than six letters in their names.
March, April, etc.
PORT GENTIL, Gabon - Lance Corporal Zach Stevens, Ground Combat
Element, Security Cooperation Task Force, Africa Partnership
Station 2011, conducts physical training alongside Gabonese and
Brazzaville-Congolese service members in Port Gentil, Gabon,
recently. (Photo by Lance Corporal Tom Jones)
PORT GENTIL, Gabon - Lance Corporal Zach Stevens, Ground Combat
Element, Security Cooperation Task Force, Africa Partnership
Station 2011, conducts physical training alongside Gabonese and
Brazzaville-Congolese service members in Port Gentil, Gabon,
recently. (Photo by Lance Corporal Tom Jones)
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Zach Stevens, foreground, assigned
to the Ground Combat Element, Security Cooperation Task Force,
Africa Partnership Station 2011, conducts physical training
alongside Gabonese and Brazzaville-Congolese service members in
Port Gentil, Gabon, June 2, 2011. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance
Cpl. Tom Jones/Released)
Where?
Where is it happening?
Provide the geographic location and name of the base, facility or
organization.
If there is no city, give a region or general area (such as near
the Syrian border).
If on a ship, give the ship name as well as where it is under way
or moored.
Note if it is at an undisclosed location.
Why?
Why is the action taking place?
Briefly explain the purpose of the event, exercise or
operation.
U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher L. Dixon, a section sergeant with
1st Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment,
Task Force Spartan, provides security while Soldiers from his unit
prepare to board their vehicles in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan,
Sept. 26, 2010.
If pertinent, include how the subject is performing the
action.
