Editorial desk · Practical notes

Read a ship photograph carefully

Record the collection, caption, catalog number and any date supplied with a photograph. Separate those details from your own observations. Describe the hull, visible lettering and setting without guessing a vessel name.

Write one question the image raises and look for a catalog note or related document. A later caption can be mistaken, so preserve conflicting descriptions instead of quietly choosing one. Keep the source address beside your notes.