How To Caption Photos

[ArtMan]

If you ever look at the gallery page — and you really should! — you'll notice that photo captions that make perfect sense on a log page can be absolutely useless out of context. Because Geocaching.com (shamefully) does not automatically include the PID or the location on the gallery page, many folks like to provide full information within the caption, even if it's redundant when it appears on the log page.

 

For example, I caption my photos like this example: Closeup, MAGNETIC STA (HV0024), Easton, MD. The format is: description of the photo (might be 'west view,' 'courthouse steps,' etc.), then the designation in all-caps, followed by the PID in parentheses, and finally the location (usually the county, but the municipality if that's more descriptive).

 

It's a bit more work, but I think it makes for a more meaningful gallery with the photos are fully identified.

 

Think about it.

 

Thanks,

-ArtMan-

[+PFF]

I second Artman's motion.

 

I enjoy seeing recoveries around North Carolina by various GEOCAC folks. The caption makes them easy to spot.

 

Paul

[+Astro_D]

Thanks for the info! We'll use this new format next time.

 

When posting our photos, we put the PID (in caps), the designation, and the county and state in the photo caption.

 

We have not done many 'distance' shots, but see that they do add something to the log. We'll try some of these shots next time we're in the field as well.

 

Katrina

[+NorthWes]

If it hadn't been for an email from Artman to me in June 2005 about my photo and log at UW5498 (the Salty Dawg Saloon on Homer Spit, in Homer Alaska), I wouldn't have known about the benchmark gallery. Now Artman does it again with a pleasantly-worded instruction set on what should've been obvious to me all along... doh! Thanks once more for helping me learn how to get more out of this game, Artman!

[+Black Dog Trackers]

AstroD-Team -

 

Distant shots are very important. The NGS, if you ever consider moving toward submitting reports to them too, wants the direction that the distant shot was taken. I usually try to note that when I'm taking a picture and include the directional information in both geocaching and NGS logs.

[+Astro_D]

That's what I love about the BM forums - you are all so nice and helpful!! I will be sure to grab the distance shots from now on.

 

Is it better to take the distant shots from the BM or taken from a distant point looking towards the BM? Should the BM be easily identifible in the photo?

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

Katrina

AstroD-Team

[ArtMan]

Is it better to take the distant shots from the BM or taken from a distant point looking towards the BM? Should the BM be easily identifible in the photo?

Thanks for the nice comments, Team. In my opinion the area photos should show the benchmark and nearby landmarks. That provides helpful additional information, beyond your log and the NGS reports, for the next person seeking the mark.

 

For example, take a look at the log for AB5651 (GPS 045) in Easton, MD. I've included area photos that each include the mark itself and a landmark referred to in the NGS datasheet or my log. In this case there are three: a big water tank, a skate park, and an industrial building. I used to point out the location of the mark with an arrow; now I use a box, which I think is a bit less obtrusive. Others set up some marker in the field so they don't have to edit their photos afterwards.

 

This is an unusual log for me; I rarely post more than 3 pictures.

 

I've never submitted photos to NGS, but their specs also include a medium shot, which is rather vaguely defined, but might include the mark and a couple of feet around it.

 

-ArtMan-

[68-eldo]

For example, take a look at the log for AB5651 (GPS 045) in Easton, MD. I've included area photos that each include the mark itself and a landmark referred to in the NGS datasheet or my log. In this case there are three: a big water tank, a skate park, and an industrial building. I used to point out the location of the mark with an arrow; now I use a box, which I think is a bit less obtrusive. Others set up some marker in the field so they don't have to edit their photos afterwards.

 

-ArtMan-

 

Suggestion: In the area photos label them as FROM the north or TO the north. Just "north view" could be confusing. Although once on site it would become clear.