Captions

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Captions
or the words people are more likely to read than
your stories.
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What Makes A Good Caption

• Just knowing all the parts that exist in your
  caption arsenal will supply you with countless
  creative combinations to explain the photo to the
  fullest.
• Writing a good caption is just like eating a
  great meal. It should leave you satisfied.

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1. Appetizer

• The Lead-in
• Only a few words are needed to connect the photo
  to the caption. One way to do this is by using a
  graphic element to draw the readers attention or
  by putting the first few words in bold.

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2. Main Entree

• This part of the caption answers the five Ws
  who, what, when, where and why. The main part of
  the caption should be written in present tense.
• Most good captions contain at least two
  sentences.
• Examplefirst sentence After obtaining
  possession of the ball, Jackie Anderson (11)
  indicates to her team to run the Entry Two play
  during a game against Kickapoo Dec. 18.

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3. Dessert

• Finish the caption by giving the reader
  background information. Sometimes this background
  comes in the form of a quote.
• Usually, this final part of a caption is written
  in past tense.
• Examplesecond sentence We had a great season
  considering some of the setbacks, she said. Our
  speed was one advantage most teams didnt have.

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The result

• After obtaining possession of the ball, Jackie
  Anderson (11) indicates to her team to run the
  Entry Two play during a game against Kickapoo
  Dec. 18.We had a great season considering some
  of the setbacks, she said. Our speed was one
  advantage most teams didnt have.

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Captions without a quote

• Example Searching for the perfect solution to a
  challenging chemistry experiment, Mark Waller
  (12) analyzes the remains of a floral cloning
  transplant. His cloning of a sunflower seed and a
  pansy offspring won first place at the North
  Carolina State Chemistry Contest in Chapel Hill
  on Nov. 1.

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What NOT to do

• Start a caption with the words a, an or the.
• Assume the reader has already read your story and
  omit essential information.
• Overuse the same lead pattern.
• State the obvious.
• Use gag captions.

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Write A-quality captions

• All captions must be of quality, using the
  previous two examples as A captions.
• In Journalism II-Yearbook, the requirement is
  that every caption will be an A-level caption
  (unless space or design prevents it) or it will
  be rewritten.

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Whats a D caption?

• Identifies the people in the caption, including
  full names and classification/ title.
• Example Chris Jones (12), varsity running back

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Whats a C caption?

• Describes, tells whats happening in the photo,
  without restating the obvious.
• Example Chris Jones (12), varsity running back,
  carries the ball during the third quarter against
  Parkview.

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Whats a B caption?

• Adds details, second sentence with facts that
  cant be known from reading the story or looking
  at the photo.
• Example Running back Chris Jones (11) carries
  the ball during the third quarter against
  Parkview Sept. 15. Jones gained a district high
  245 yards rushing during that game and lead the
  district with 2, 755 yards for the season.

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Whats an A caption?

• Personalizes the caption with a quote-- a
  one-of-a-kind reaction from someone in the center
  of interest in that photo. NEVER ask someone to
  give you a quote. Instead, ask What were you
  doing here?
• Running back Chris Jones (11) carries the ball
  during the third quarter against Parkview Sept.
  15. Jones gained a district high 245 yards
  rushing during that game and lead the district
  with 2, 755 yards for the season. I had a lot of
  yards against Parkview, but I also fumbled three
  times, he said. Coach was really mad at me
  until after we won the game.

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Is a picture worth 1,000 words?

• Perhaps. But you only have a finite amount of
  space to tell what the picture doesnt.
• Through captions, are you telling a story?
• Or are you writing captions as an
  after-thought?
• The goal is to have readers digest your captions,
  which might motivate them to read your story.
• While captions should be satisfying, like a
  full-course meal, readers should leave wanting
  more.