Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/12/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Douglas Barry offered in answer to Steve Barbour : Subject: [Leica] Captions >> Strongly disagree. A caption can add to a picture as well as giving the >> who, > what, where.... How the blazes can one "Untitled" picture be remembered > against the visual sea of other "Untitled" pictures. Douglas mon ami, then sorry mate I must disagree with you . When the Canadian News Photographers Association are judging for our National Picture Award competition, captions are not given as the images come up. WHY? Well we are looking at the impact of the photo, it's considered strength of content as the stand alone photograph. Yes if we as judges want more information because the image creates questions, the caption is shown along side the photo for more information. Does the caption add to? Or detract? We have on occasion had a picture as seen with caption dropped! WHY? Because the caption is meaningless and destroys the image for what it is supposed to represent as a news photograph. The caption, if badly written can change the complete meaning of the stand alone photograph. Or a so so image is enhanced due to a well written caption. But first and foremost a picture should grab and hold the viewer first.... then read the caption. Many photos do not require a caption simply because the "WOW" factor is so strong the viewer is blown away. Then we have the curious viewer who wants to know more about the picture. Which would have little impact on the "WOW" factor other than cursory information of who why and how. Actually we have had major arguments due to a caption misrepresenting what is happening in the photograph which usually takes the picture out of the running as a potential winner. Yet had it selected through 2 editing cuts to the final round as a possible winner. But thrown out because of a caption misrepresentation. :-( Captions are not the be all to die for on many photographs. By the same token a descriptive well written caption makes the photo content more meaningful..... at times. cheers, ted > "Steve Barbour" <steve.barbour at gmail.com> wrote in response to MR's >>> Cute captions are death to a serious image. >>> You want them as bland as possible. >>> Simply descriptive. Or none. >> >> good point Mark...seems if the image works, nothing more need be said... >> >> if it needs to be said, it's cus the image has failed, >> > > > I like captions, but doctors differ and patients die :-) > > Douglas > _________ > Douglas Barry > Bray, Co. Wicklow > Republic of Ireland > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.431 / Virus Database: 270.14.122/2590 - Release Date: 12/28/09 07:16:00