Print Production: Photography Research - Front Covers
1. This would work well as a front cover shoot. There’s room behind their heads to add a masthead and, had the photo been longer, would offer enough space for sell lines. The use of costume, having both models wearing black, signifies the relationship between them is similar but also represents the glam rock attitude they share. The sunglasses reinforce the high class, rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. The pose that they have, the lowering of the sunglasses and the pointing creates direct address for the reader and improves the connection between magazine and reader. The eye line also rests on the top third line, making these centrally framed and direct with the reader. The pose that they’re positioned in connotes their attitude. The guy on the left has an aggressive pose, connoting that he’s the driver of the band, that he keeps them motivated. Whereas the pose of the other guy suggests his intelligence and his willingness to go forward without being forced. He has a judgmental expression, showing that his relaxed posture likes to go at his own pace. The black backdrop and the continuous use of dark colours connotes that their future is unknown to the public and that they’re keeping the work they’re doing a secret.
2. The use of this as a front cover shoot would work well. It matches with the genre of my own magazine and represents their band successfully. The costume and props used in this shoot represent the attitude and their music. The fact that every member is wearing a mask, or has their face covered symbolizes the mysterious elements to their work, they also show how their identity as people is hidden and that their true sides to their personalities are kept hidden from the public. The different levels and distances from the camera that the individuals are placed at, connote their position in the band, the guy wearing the blue mask stays at the very back representing that he’s not the most confident of people. The pose of the traditional “devil horns” show that he’s more involved with the music part of his job than the money, unlike the guy with the American dollar over his mouth. This suggests that his job pays well and he enjoys the money he makes from it. The lack of eye contact breaks the direct address but the choice of costume and bizarre props (masks etc.) show that the band are not the normal band that an average magazine would feature. The use of the dark colours backs up the connotations that the band are mysterious, they hide behind different personas and behind the music they create.
3. Using this photo as a front cover shoot, would go really well. Jordan (The Ready Set) is positioned off centre towards the left with his eye line on the top third giving him dominance in the frame. The use of the empty space to his right allows an artistic input of the magazine information and sell-lines creating a difference to the cover. The use of pose and posture shows a relaxed happy personality. That Jordan cares about his music but also the impact it has upon his fans and also the representation of himself. It shows how he isn’t overcome by the rock star fame and attention that he’s getting. The costume he’s wearing shows the free, relaxed personality that creates his persona. The facial expression he supports is very innocent and thoughtful, creating a timid, shy effect that shows his personality to the readers. This would also look great in a double page spread, with the interview itself going in the grey section of the photo and continuing onto the next page. This would create an artistic unique effect that would enforce the article with the creative photo adjacent.
4. For this photo to be used as a cover shoot, I think it would allow the designer and publisher to be very creative. It’s not usual that a model would have anything past their waist visible on most magazines. This shot however, would be really good because even though we do see her full body in such ways, I think it allows enough room to be creative. The top of the photo is room enough for the mast head to go and at the bottom there’s room to put a puff. The sell lines would look really artistic down the sides at different levels, for example three or four sell lines where a header is just included on one side nearer to her feet and then on the other maybe two sell lines with a brief description. Not only does it allow rooms for sell lines, but it also has enough space around her head and her feet to add a few cover lines with photos and such and also a skyline above the mast head. I really like the construction of this photo and think it would suit the difference of a front cover and would successfully make it work.
