How do captions and cutlines re-frame the meaning of an image?
A photo can tell a thousand words , not to mention a thousand different interpretations and stories. Photographs can confirm reality of an event or situation and it is also an effective means to convey a powerful message. However a photo alone does not explain itself. Therefore words are significant to tell the story of the picture or communicate the message to the intended viewer (Askew & Wilk, 2002). Without words, the pictures would exist without meaning, thoughts or purpose.
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| This photo of me chasing the pigeons was taken by my son at St James's Park in London. This photo can produce different meanings. It could be that I was running because I was late or I could just be terrorizing a flock of pigeons to alleviate boredom (which is actually the case here). Overall this photo requires simple explanatory text to avoid misinterpretations. |
A photograph in any form of publication is often accompanied by some explanatory text, termed as 'captions' or 'cutlines' to supply additional information and effectively clarify the meaning.
To re-frame an image, cutline is a short explanatory text placed below or beside to describe the photograph or illustration. Cutlines are necessary because of the functions they provide namely identification, description, explanation and elaboration (Luebke, 1989). It varies in style and length depending on the medium. For example in television, the cutline is superimposed over a picture usually at the top or bottom of the screen to describe what is being shown or to name the person speaking. A cutline tells the reader of who, what, when, where and why or how about the photograph in complete sentences, with 50 words or less. As photograph depict events frozen in time, a cutline warrants for the first sentence to be written in the present tense. Most newspapers use a cutline writing style where additional sentences can be written in present or past tense depending on a publication's style or preferences. Cutlines must also include a photo credit and make reference to the newsworthiness of the photo. It also generally identify everyone recognizable in the photo.
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| The cutline on live BBC news report of Michael Jackson's death. |
Meanwhile captions are the title or headline that precedes the cutline and it provides important details of a photograph. Photograph can mislead or misrepresent if the context in which they were taken is not made clear. Therefore captions help place the photographs in their proper context (Prosser, 1998). In addition to that, captions expand our understanding of a photograph and reinforce what the photograph is meant to convey. It is usually placed directly above, below or to the side of the image they describe. It is the first to appear and it is usually formatted in bold. The caption only consist of a only a few words or a short phrase to accommodate the needs of its viewers. It identify the people, places, animals, plants or structures in the photograph and explain the action.
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| Paying homage to the late Apple co-founder with the caption 'Steve Jobs, 1955-2011'. |
Cutlines or captions, helped tell the story along with the photos. It is therefore uncommon for photograph to stand alone without the benefit of a cutline or caption.
References
Askew, K. M., & Wilk, R. R. (2002). The anthropology of media:A reader. Victoria, Australia:Blackwell.
Luebke, B. F. (1989). Out of focus:Images of women and men in newspaper photographs. Sex Roles, 20(3), 121-133. doi:10.1007/BF00287986
Prosser, J. (1998). Image-based research:A sourcebook for qualitive researchers. London, Great Britain:Routledge.
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