Magazine Covers

Portraits and Self Portraits

Magazines Part II

Early Magazine covers typically had very few words. They were known to have the title of the magazine, the publication information, and possibly a generic picture. They were very similar to book covers. Very few had cover lines.

Poster Cover magazines had little to no words aside from the title of the magazine. The cover had one large image to summarize the content of the magazine. The covers usually consist of one picture/painting/drawing of one specific person or think. The image was up close enough to show details of the person. The one picture is colorful or interesting.

Pictures Married to Type magazine covers have a good ratio of picture to text. The model's face overlaps (or is overlapped by) the title in some way. The model is still the subject of the cover, but the text is easy to read and in the sides and bottom of the cover. The story tags will likely overlap the model, but not in away that completely distracts eyes from the subject.

In the Forest of Words magazines have a lot going on in their cover. They start with an intriguing or unusual picture that grabs the readers attention. The covers are also extremely content heavy. The text  overlaps some or much of the subject. The content usually doesn't cover the subject's face, but will likely cover part of their body.

My Favorite Cover

Favorite

I really like the way their is a lot going on in this photo, but Lady Gaga's face is the center of attention. Their are definite leading lines with the neckpiece leading our eyes to her face. I also like how there is a lot of light directed toward her face, which illuminates her and creates an angelic picture. This is also a fill the fame cover. All the space is used up by either her body, the neckpiece, and the text. The fact that the neckpiece is cut out creates a really unique, 3D element for the picture. It is interesting to look at, and the pink and white color scheme compliment each other well. Her expression is somewhat happy, but also gives the impression that she is picturing something, so it sparks the curiosity of, "I wonder what she's imagining." 

Best magazine covers 2016.

1. The Advocate, formal
2. Wired, formal
3. ESPN, informal
4. The New Yorker, environmental
5. OUT, formal
6. Harper's Bazaar, formal
7. ESPN, formal
8. New York, formal
9. The Atlantic, formal
10. FamilyFun, environmental      
11. Harper's Bazaar, formal
12. Vanity Fair, formal
13. Variety, formal
14. New York, informal
15. Men's Health, formal
16. Bloomberg's Businessweek, formal
17. Golf Digest, formal
18. Kinfolk, formal

Magazine Tips

5 things to think about when designing a magazine cover...

1. Arouse the curiosity of the reader/potential buyer.
2. Have a visually appealing cover.
3. Make the tags for the inside content make the magazine seem interesting.
4. Make sure it is clear and easy to understand quickly.
5. Make sure it seems worth their money.

Prompt Shoot #2

Cold

Purple

Electric