IDENTIFICATION The   second   element   of   caption   writing, identification, frequently poses the question of who or what should be identified in the photograph. There is no magic formula to cover every situation, but the general guideline is to identify everyone or everything that is identifiable.  and  pertinent  to  the  action.  A  pertinent individual or object is one that is involved in the central action of the photograph. In other words, anyone or anything in the photograph that attracts attention should be identified. Identification should come as early as possible in the caption. Many times you can identify people or things at the same time you describe the action. "BM3 Jack R. Frost sounds taps to climax Memorial Day ceremonies . . . ." Here the action and the man are identified together. The only exception to placing names high in the caption is in the case of group identification. The recommended way  to  handle  group  photographs  and  still  maintain reader interest is to use an impersonal identification in the first sentence; that is, “A group of sailors . . .,” then list the names at the end of the caption. This method achieves complete identification without cluttering the all-important  first  sentence. Identification in caption writing can be handled in any one of several ways. The idea is to handle it in the most natural and concise manner consistent with clarity. To ensure consistency, the caption writer generally uses four  methods  of  identification: Action Obvious  contrast Elimination From the left Action  is, of course, the best method. When a little league baseball player is sliding into second base, it should be obvious from the action which boy is the base runner; therefore, it is not necessary to say left or right as a means of identifying the players. Obvious  contrast  is  another  simple  way  of identifying people in a photograph. If the commanding officer and an airman recruit are photographed, it is not necessary to identify the commanding officer as being left or right. Identification by elimination is slightly more complex  but  nevertheless  very  effective.  Suppose  there are   four   people   shown   in   a   photograph.   The commanding  officer  of  the  photo  school  is  presenting  a citation to a third class petty officer. These two are identified by the action. A third person, the petty officer’s wife, standing alongside, is identified by obvious  contrast.  The  fourth  person,  the  award recipient’s  division  officer,  is  then  identified  by elimination. The   fourth   and   least   desirable   method   of identification  is  from  the  left.  This  method  of identification  should  be  used  only  as  a  last  resort  or  when there is a chance of confusion from using any of the other methods, such as in identifying groups of people. When you use this method of identification, it is not necessary to say, “‘From left to right.” To do so only wastes space. Logic tells us that if we start from the left there is no place to go except to the right. The task is therefore simplified  by  saying,  “From  the  left.” BACKGROUND  INFORMATION Background  information  is  our  third  element  of caption  writing.  It  consists  of  additional  facts  or explanations needed to clarify the photograph. It is often impossible for the photograph and the five Ws alone to provide  all  the  details  necessary  for  a  complete understanding  of  the  photograph.  Therefore,  it  becomes necessary  to  provide  the  viewer  with  additional information   for   the   purpose   of   clarifying   the photograph. How much background information is needed to clarify  a  photograph  depends  on  two  factors:  where  the photograph is to be used and how it is to be used. CREDIT  LINE The last part of caption writing is the credit line. The usual method is to credit both the photographer and the service. While there is not a set standard for giving credits,  the  following  format  can  be  used: Official U. S. Navy Photo by: PH2 Jack R. Frost, USN Or the credit line can follow directly after the last word of the caption, as shown in the following example: Line handlers cast off the stem line as the amphibious force flagship, USS Eldorado (AGC-11) gets under way for a Western Pacific deployment. (Official U. S. Navy Photo by: PH2 Jack R. Frost, USN.) 6-14