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.