The importance of titles for photographs can’t be overstated. Titles help to distinguish your photos and give them context. Not only that, but they can also add a creative spin and make your photos stand out from the crowd. But how do you go about titling a photograph? Do titles need to be italicized or can they be written in regular font? Let’s take a closer look at the conventions for titling photographs and find out.
When it comes to titling photographs, the classic convention is to identify the subject and add the date of creation. For example, if you were photographing a landscape you might title it “Mountain View – April 2021”. If it’s a photograph of someone, you would use teir name as well as the date; “John Smith – November 2020”. If it’s a composite photograph, you would default to the date of completion instead of exposure; “Winter Wonderland – December 2020”.
It should also be noted that if you are titling an image of a painting, sculpture or photograph, then you would provide the artist’s name, the title of the artwork in italics and the date of composition. Titles in italics indicate that they are artworks rater than ordinary photographs which is why this convention exists.
Finally, if an image has no title then you can write a basic description without quotation marks in its place; “Abandoned Warehouse – March 2021” for example. Generally speaking, titles of artworks (including photographs) are typically italicized when writing about them or referring to them in print media such as magazines or books.
In conclusion, when titling photographs it is important to identify the subject and note the date of creation or completion along with any other relevant iformation such as artist names or titles for artwork images. Titles should also be italicized when necessary so that readers know that they refer to an artwork rather than a standard photograph.
Including Titles for Photographs
When titling a photograph, it is best to be specific and informative. The title should identify the subject of the photograph and include the date on which it was taken. For example, an image of a red rose taken on June 8th, 2020 could be titled “Red Rose – June 8th, 2020”. If the image is of a particular person or place, such as a portrait of someone or a landscape shot, include this information in the title. For example: “Portrait of Jane Doe – June 8th, 2020” or “Desert Landscape – June 8th, 2020”. The same convention applies for composite photographs; simply include the date that the photograph was completed rater than when each individual image was taken. If the photograph is of a historic event, then include this information in the title as well – for example: “D-Day Invasion – June 6th 1944”.
Italicizing Titles of Photographs in MLA
In Modern Language Association (MLA) style, titles of photographs sould be italicized. For example, the title of the famous photograph by Ansel Adams, Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico (1941), should be written as “Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico” in italics. In addition to photographs, titles of other visual works such as paintings and sculptures should also be written in italics.
Including Photograph Titles in Quotes
The titles of photographs should generally be placed in quotation marks. This is becase the title of the photograph may have been created by the photographer and is a unique statement that identifies the work. For example, if a photograph was titled “The Golden Hour”, this title would be enclosed in quotation marks to differentiate it from other works. If an image has no title, then a basic description of the image can be used instead, without using quotation marks.
Including a Picture Title in an Essay
When writing the title of a picture in an essay, it should be formatted according to the style guide you are using (such as APA or MLA). Generally, the title of a picture should be italicized and the artist’s name should be included. If the title of the picture is already italicized (such as if it is a painting), then it should remain in italics. It is also important to include any other relevant information, such as where and when it was created. For example: Monet’s Water Lilies (1899-1905).
Labeling Pictures in an Essay
Fig. 1. A graph of global temperature change from 1850 to 2017. From NASA, “Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet,” 2018, https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/.
When labeling pictures in an essay, it is important to include a descriptive label and number for the image (e.g., Fig. 1). This should be placed on its own line beneath the image itself, with the “F” capitalized when referring to the figure. The label and number should be followed by a descriptive title that accurately descrbes the content of the image. Lastly, it is necessary to provide a citation for the source of the image so that readers can access it if desired; this citation should follow after the title and consist of “from” followed by an appropriate Works Cited entry for that source.
Titles That Should Not Be Italicized
Titles that should not be italicized include names of books, films, TV shows, magazines, newspapers, journals, plays, operas, albums, songs, painting or works of art, poems, short stories and individual episodes of TV shows. Additionally, titles of articles or papers withn larger works (such as chapters in books or sections in journals) should not be italicized. Titles of lectures and individual podcasts or videos should also not be italicized.
Citing a Photograph in MLA
Smith, John. “The Grand Canyon at Sunset.” National Geographic, 20 June 2016, www.nationalgeographic.com/photos/grand-canyon-sunset/. Accessed 10 March 2019.
When to Avoid Italicizing in MLA Format
In MLA style, titles of articles should not be italicized, but rather placed in quotation marks. This applies to articles from journals, newspapers, websites, or any other publication. In contrast, titles of sources (such as books, magazines or journals) where the article was published should be italicized. Additionally, when citing a title in your paper or essay, the first letter of each word in the title should be capitalized except for articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, but, for), and prepositions (at, by, to).
Position of Image Titles
Image titles should go above the image, typically immediately following the headline. This placement helps to draw the reader’s attention to the image, as well as providing context for what the image is about. It also serves as a visual cue that an image will follow, allowing readers to quickly scan and identify images that may be of interest to them.
Including Titles of Paintings in Quotes
No, titles of paintings should not be in quotes. Artwork titles should be italicized to inicate that they are a part of a larger work, such as a collection or an exhibition. Quotation marks are typically used to signify dialogue or direct quotations, and thus would not be appropriate for titles of visual art pieces. For example, instead of putting Van Gogh’s Starry Night in quotation marks, it should be written as Van Gogh’s Starry Night with the title italicized.
Should the Mona Lisa Be Italicized?
Yes, Mona Lisa needs to be italicized when it is referred to as an individual work of art. As a painting created by the artist Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa is considered a single, distinct work of art that sould be distinguished from other works of art in written form. Therefore, it should be italicized to emphasize its unique status.
Conclusion
The titles of photographs are important for conveying the content of the image and providing context to viewers. Titles can help to identify the subject, provide location information, and give insight into the photographer’s creative intentions. In addition, titles can be used to create a narrative around a photograph, adding an extra layer of meaning to the image. When titling photographs, it is important to be as accurate as possible and include relevant details such as names, dates, or locations. By taking these steps, photographers can ensure that their images will be properly identified in future exhibitions and publications.
