Photo captions
- David Collins
- Youtube Railfan Guru
- Posts: 2859
- Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2020 10:46 am
- Location: Bloomfield Hills, Mi
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Photo captions
I'm working on my website (which is more turning into a blog if anything to be honest) and I've been typing my captions, which I want to be able to explain my photo and what not, but not sound like a foamer OR go too in depth.
For instance, I'm going to include a photo and the caption with it, which is...
A few very unusual occurrences, well, occurred in order for me to get this photo of a stopped BNSF intermodal train in Fort Madison, Iowa. Including this train stopping almost a 1/2 a mile away from the signals, the former CitiRail GEVO trailing (which is now owned by Canadian National), and the VERY friendly engineer, BNSF crews are not known to be so friendly to railfans, but this engineer was awesome, he asked what setting I wanted the headlights at for my pictures, which I asked for full brightness with the ditchlights on, add the sunset in and you get a pretty dang good photo.
For instance, I'm going to include a photo and the caption with it, which is...
A few very unusual occurrences, well, occurred in order for me to get this photo of a stopped BNSF intermodal train in Fort Madison, Iowa. Including this train stopping almost a 1/2 a mile away from the signals, the former CitiRail GEVO trailing (which is now owned by Canadian National), and the VERY friendly engineer, BNSF crews are not known to be so friendly to railfans, but this engineer was awesome, he asked what setting I wanted the headlights at for my pictures, which I asked for full brightness with the ditchlights on, add the sunset in and you get a pretty dang good photo.
Ferris State University’s Train Guy
Youtube: Michigan Railfan Films
Flickr: David R. Collins
SC: daveeed1k
Youtube: Michigan Railfan Films
Flickr: David R. Collins
SC: daveeed1k
Re: Photo captions
Were you all the way zoomed out with the lens?
Last edited by J T on Mon Apr 11, 2022 5:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimthias/
GRHC - you know every night I can imagine he is in front of his computer screen sitting in his underwear swearing profusely and drinking Blatz beer combing the RailRoadFan website for grammatical errors.
GRHC - you know every night I can imagine he is in front of his computer screen sitting in his underwear swearing profusely and drinking Blatz beer combing the RailRoadFan website for grammatical errors.
Re: Photo captions
Keep it minimal. Nobody wants to read an essay.
- SD80MAC
- Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
- Posts: 10535
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:59 pm
- Location: Grand Rapids
Re: Photo captions
Mostly this, however longer descriptions can be ok if they are well-written and interesting.
Just don't be one of those guys that puts up a photo with the only info being "Q369 Suman" and nothing else.
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
- ~Z~
- Sofa King Admin
- Posts: 12994
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:14 pm
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
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Re: Photo captions
Are you asking for help of some sort? There's so real question in your initial post... Pay attention to what you are writing. Perhaps don't post comments in the chat room, make this thread, and go right back to chatting.
Do you want to find out if your photo caption is appropriate? I don't mind that it's a bit wordy, but saying "you get a pretty dang good photo" in the caption is definitely not needed. By even posting the photo, we get that you probably like your own photo, but let the audience judge your photo for themselves.
Do you want to find out if your photo caption is appropriate? I don't mind that it's a bit wordy, but saying "you get a pretty dang good photo" in the caption is definitely not needed. By even posting the photo, we get that you probably like your own photo, but let the audience judge your photo for themselves.
Webmaster
Railroad photos on Railroadfan.com
Railroad photos on Railroadfan.com
Re: Photo captions
SD80MAC writes good captions. I appreciate his photos because of the background information.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
Re: Photo captions
Agreed.~Z~ wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 3:03 pm
Do you want to find out if your photo caption is appropriate? I don't mind that it's a bit wordy, but saying "you get a pretty dang good photo" in the caption is definitely not needed. By even posting the photo, we get that you probably like your own photo, but let the audience judge your photo for themselves.
Rule #1, never compliment your own photo in the caption. Let the viewers decide if your photo has earned a compliment or not.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimthias/
GRHC - you know every night I can imagine he is in front of his computer screen sitting in his underwear swearing profusely and drinking Blatz beer combing the RailRoadFan website for grammatical errors.
GRHC - you know every night I can imagine he is in front of his computer screen sitting in his underwear swearing profusely and drinking Blatz beer combing the RailRoadFan website for grammatical errors.
Re: Photo captions
Who is your audience and what is the story you want to tell?
- Jetlink
- Not a Railfan
- Posts: 3578
- Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:41 pm
- Location: 2.5 miles from CH 116.3
Re: Photo captions
Great advice. I love it when the photo tells a story and the caption compliments it. Let the photo tell the story. The caption should add the color commentary.
interested in trains
Patiently waiting for LansingRailfan to antagonize me in his tagline
Patiently waiting for LansingRailfan to antagonize me in his tagline
Re: Photo captions
A railfan would be interested in the location, consists, train symbol and so forth. A wider audience wouldn't care what a GEVO was and will skip over it once the jagon starts. Complimenting the photo would be caption about the engineering asking if you wanted the head lights on or off for your photo (leaving the BNSF not usually friendly out). That would have a broad interest. Brief stats at the end. Photo geeks always want to know what it was shot with and settings (again brief).
- David Collins
- Youtube Railfan Guru
- Posts: 2859
- Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2020 10:46 am
- Location: Bloomfield Hills, Mi
- Contact:
Re: Photo captions
Any railfans to be honest
Ferris State University’s Train Guy
Youtube: Michigan Railfan Films
Flickr: David R. Collins
SC: daveeed1k
Youtube: Michigan Railfan Films
Flickr: David R. Collins
SC: daveeed1k