GATHERING  CUTLINE  INFORMATION There  is  no  secret  formula  to  gathering  cutline information.  However,  there  are  certain  practices  you should  follow  that  will  allow  you  to  write  effective cutlines after you return to your office. These practices are covered in the following text. How to Record Cutline Information Cutline information maybe recorded in a notebook or a locally designed “caption log.” A caption log may serve  as  a  handy  reminder  of  what  information  you should  record  An  example  of  a  locally  designed  caption log is shown in figure 9-14. What Cutline Material Is Recorded When  you  gather  material  for  cutlines,  you generally use the same methods and techniques as for gathering  information  for  a  news  story.  The  major difference is that you do not need as much information, but it must be pertinent to the scene in the photograph. The following are a few points to consider before you write a cutline: What is the storytelling value of the photograph? Is   the   photograph   intended   for   internal   or external  use?  (Photographs  for  civilians  may need more information.) Will the photograph be released to a hometown paper? If so, you must include a hometown tie-in. Will  the  photograph  be  used  alone  or  with  a story? With these basic considerations in mind, try to stick with  the  old  but  reliable  five  Ws  (and  H)  when  you gather  cutline  material.  Find  the  answers  to  the  most pertinent questions, and you will have more than enough information to write your cutline. WHO.— Identify people in the photograph by rank full  name,  title,  hometown,  and  so  forth.  Also  note relative  positions  of  people  in  the  photograph  when there are more than one and if it is not obvious who is who  by  action,  age,  gender  or  rank  Sometimes  it  is helpful  for  you  to  note  the  clothing  or  physical characteristics of the people being photographed. Keep in   mind   that   when   you   or   your   photographer   use black-and-white  film,  it  will  do  little  good  to  note “yellow  T-shirt”  or  “red  dress”  on  the  caption  log. However,   such   notations   as   “Mets   T-shirt,” “sunglasses” or “curly blond hair” will prove helpful. WHAT.— The “what” can apply to two areas. First, it may involve what is happening in the photograph. In the caption log, it maybe necessary to jot down a word or  two  to  describe  the  action.  For  example,  “slicing cake,” “performing PMS check” or “donning EEBD.” Second,  the  “what”  may  entail  equipment  in  the photograph.  Unusual  equipment  often  is  included  in photographs. The equipment should be identified. An OBA may not require identification, but an OBA with a lifeline attached may need further elaboration. Ships and aircraft  should  always  be  identified.  Never  guess  or suppose  you  know  the  proper  nomenclature;  ask  an expert on the scene. WHERE.—  Make sure you record the location of the  action.  Write  down  the  name  or  number  of  street names, building names or numbers, and so forth. If there are  landmarks,  either  natural  or  man-made,  identify them as well. These might include rivers, lakes, statues, bridges  and  mountains. WHEN.— Record the time and date the photograph was  taken.  This  is  especially  important  for  “wild”  or “stand-alone” photographs that will not be accompanied by a story. WHY.— Unless it is obvious, record why an action is taking place. Is it part of a base basketball champion- ship or a monthly awards ceremony? As in the “when” category,  this  is  important  for  photographs  that  will stand  by  themselves. HOW.— If there are circumstances that led to the photograph being taken and they require explanation, make sure you know how they came about. Matching Cutline Information with the Photograph You should record cutline information by individual frame number. However, if you shoot several frames of the same subject and action, it is not necessary for you to record information each time. Simply list the range of frame numbers in which the subject appeared. When to Record Cutline Information Record  the  cutline  information  immediately  after each shot or series of shots. Do not let subjects getaway without jotting down the required cutline information. They may be hard or impossible to track down later, and 9-13