So You Took a Stunning Photo of Chicago (Probably Better Than Anyone Else Ever Has) - How to Cite Yourself Like a Boss in Chicago Style
Let's face it, you just crushed it in the Windy City. You wandered the streets, camera glued to your hand, dodging pigeons and deep dish aficionados, and emerged victorious with a photo that could make even Ansel Adams weep. But now you have a new challenge: how to cite your own masterpiece in true Chicago style.
Fear not, fellow photog phenom! This guide will have you citing yourself like a champ in no time.
First Things First: Unpublished Gems
Since your photo is likely a personal triumph, not gracing the pages of National Geographic (yet!), it falls under the category of an unpublished work. Unpublished? More like unbeknownst to the world (their loss!).
Here's how to handle this situation with finesse:
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In-text Citation: Casually drop a little nugget of information like this: "(See Fig. 1: My Masterpiece, a testament to my photographic genius)" Bold that "Fig. 1" - it makes you look official.
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Forget the Footnote Fuss: Chicago style normally uses footnotes for unpublished works, but who wants to be normal? This is your moment to shine! Skip the footnote and include the following directly in the caption below your photo:
Fig. 1: My Masterpiece (2024). (Yes, that's me, the photographer).
Pro Tip: Feel free to add a dash of humor to the caption. Maybe something like, "Captured with unwavering skill and a questionable amount of deep dish pizza.
Published and Preening?
Did you somehow manage to snag a spot on a prestigious photography website? High five! In that case, treat it like any published source:
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In-text Citation: "(Your Name, 'Title of Photo,' [Year], website name, URL)"
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Bibliography: (Your Name), "'Title of Photo,'** [Year]. Website name. URL.
Remember: Replace the bracketed info with your actual details.
Now go forth and conquer the Chicago style world, one stunning photo citation at a time!
