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Toward Better Photo Captions


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Everyone wants to do well--newsletter editors too!

The newsletter awards program gives points for simply

having photo captions, but here are a few thoughts on

how they can be improved.

Often, volunteer editors have vague or generic captions.

"Impressive brass car" is generic, and was probably written

because the photographer didn't get information off the

car's windshield card at the show. "Tom Smith's 1909 Simplex"

is better and will educate the readers a bit.

Much more interesting is, "Tom Smith found this 1909 Simplex

in an old Long Island carriage house in 1959, and had it

totally restored in the 1960's. It has been on six Glidden Tours."

That last example requires talking to the owner, but is far more

interesting to the reader. And talking to the owner may

open up many more possibilities--interesting contacts and

maybe even a story! That last example also documents history

far better for the future.

When you read the New York Times or The Wall Street Journal,

they never have vague captions such as "Hillary Clinton."

Captions should inform--and such professionalism should make

your hard work better appreciated!

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