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Photo caption
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This article possibly contains original research. (March 2023) |

Photo captions, also known as cutlines, are a few lines of text used to explain and elaborate on published photographs. In some cases captions and cutlines are distinguished, where the caption is a short (usually one-line) title/explanation for the photo, while the cutline is a longer, prose block under the caption, generally describing the photograph, giving context, or relating it to the article.
Captions more than a few sentences long are often referred to as a "copy block". They are a type of display copy. Display copy also includes headlines and contrasts with "body copy", such as newspaper articles and magazines. Captions can also be generated by automatic image captioning software.
References
[edit]See also
[edit]- The Art of Editing, by Floyd K. krishno Chandro Barmon. Brooks
Photo caption
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
A photo caption, also known as a cutline, is a concise textual description that accompanies a photograph, typically placed below or beside the image, to identify its subjects, describe the depicted action, and provide essential context for its relevance in journalistic, editorial, or archival settings.[1][2] These captions serve as a bridge between visual content and narrative, enabling readers to grasp the "who, what, when, where, why, and how" of an image without relying solely on accompanying articles.[3]
The practice of captioning photographs emerged in the late 19th century with the integration of photography into print media, evolving alongside the rise of photojournalism in the early 20th century from simple static labels in early illustrated newspapers to more dynamic narratives that integrate seamlessly with images.[3] Pioneering figures like W. Eugene Smith advanced captioning in mid-20th-century photo-essays, such as his 1948 Life magazine photo-essay "Country Doctor" and his 1951 "Nurse Midwife" series, where captions functioned as miniature essays to deepen emotional and factual impact.[3] By the 1950s, as noted in Nancy Newhall's analysis, captions had diversified into forms like enigmatic teasers (e.g., in Time magazine), narrative explanations common in news reporting, and additive layers that enhanced interpretive depth in documentary works.[3]
In modern journalism, effective photo captions adhere to structured guidelines to ensure accuracy and engagement: the first sentence, often in present tense, identifies key elements like people, location, and date, while subsequent sentences offer broader context or relevance to the story.[2] For instance, a caption might begin with "Protesters gather in New York City's Times Square on October 7, 2023," followed by "The demonstration responds to recent policy changes affecting urban housing."[2] This format not only aids reader comprehension but also supports digital accessibility, search engine optimization, and archival integrity, underscoring captions' role in maintaining journalistic credibility.[2] Poorly crafted captions can mislead audiences or diminish a photograph's evidentiary power, as seen in historical misuses of Farm Security Administration images during World War II propaganda efforts.[3]