Captioning Photos in the Institute Report

The Institute Report is an important monthly publication for the department. Besides photography and a full-length feature article, captioning photos is a major task for me as an intern. Each article contains a few photos and captions can be a short phrase to directing describe what is happening in the image, or it can be a “deep cut.” A deep cut is an image or two accompanied by a short (75-200 word) written piece. Deep cuts are primarily used for aesthetic purposes to fill extra space in the magazine. Below is a deep cut that I wrote for the the February issue of the Institute Report:

“Wrestling, Basketball Beat Citadel”

Basketball and wrestling seasons are winding to a close, with both teams having scored wins against the Citadel. Basketball defeated the Citadel 88-81 Jan. 20 in Cameron Hall with the entire Corps of Cadets attending. For this special “blackout” game, cadets sported black T-shirts that said Beat Citadel. Wrestling earned a victory against the Bulldogs 24-21 in Charleston Jan. 25. In the team’s last home competition Jan. 13, Keydet wrestling hosted Clarion, Ohio, and Davidson, defeated the latter 29-9.–VMI Photos by Ashlie Walter and Kelly Nye.

The cut includes actions shots from VMI basketball and wrestling competitions.Here is another deep cut example about a trebuchet launch:

Trebuchet Launch

On Feb. 21, STEM cadets got the chance to see physics in action as they launched water jugs across the Parade Ground with a trebuchet. The trebuchet was built by former professor of civil engineering Grigg Mullen ’76, and the lesson was taught by Col. Dean Kershaw ’68 to his engineering fundamentals class. The launch allowed cadets some time to step away from the classroom and head outside to apply their engineering and physics knowledge in a live scenario.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Regular captions are sentences explaining an image, with no story. Below are some examples of captions I have written:

Brig. Gen Jeffrey Smith ’79 stands with students from George Mason University as they hoist the trophy for winning this year’s Cyber Cup. The annual Commonwealth Cyber Fusion took place Feb. 24 and 25 in Marshall Hall.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

Nicholas Celfo ’18, Peter Boyle ’19, and Brian Maguire ’18 compete in the Cyber Cup Competition Feb 25 in Marshall Hall.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Keynote speaker, Thomas Rid, professor of strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University, speaks to conference attendees Feb. 24 during the Cyber Fusion conference.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Dr. Stanley Hauerwas speaks to cadets in Lt. Col Ryan Holston’s Morality of War class during his visit March 2.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Dr. Stanley Hauerwas delivers a lecture titled “Why War is a Moral Necessity for Americans” in Jackson Memorial Hall March 1.—VMI Photo by Maj. John Robertson IV.

Professor of Modern Languages Maj. Abbey Carrico and Levi Harmon ’18 immerse local kids in French culture Feb 16 at the Discovery Heights Children’s Museum in Lexington.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Cadet Levi Harmon ’18 practices French phrases with Vivienne King Feb. 16 at the nascent Discovery Heights Children’s Museum on Lexington’s Main Street.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.