Music Magazine Research: Analysing Photographs

These two images from The Source and Vanity Fair differ in composition, Vanity Fair has taken on the rule of third as Lady Gaga is placed on the right third drawing the eye to her posture, the intersection points on her posture lead the eye towards her hand whilst the other is covered by text, on the other hand in The Source, the subject has been centred in the photograph therefore the intersection points don't create focal points at all as he has been placed in the middle third, however the top third of this image does draw the eye to his. 

The lighting in both images draws both to the face of both models, on the cover of The Source the light is coming from above creating shadows down his neck, this draws you into his face as it's highlights contrasts with the shadows created on the neck. On Vanity Fair the idea of contrast also applies however in a different way, the clothing that Lady Gaga is wearing contrasts with her face and hair as her fair hair and skin is so different from her black clothing therefore the eye is drawn towards her face, her face is also well lit by light therefore adds further attraction.

There is a use of lines in both photographs in different ways. On the Vanity Fair cover the lines are more dominantly her arms and legs which stem from around her face which draws further attention to her face, however the use of lines on the cover of The Source is from the gun which has been held, this draws attention to this part of the photograph which also adds further drama and attention because of what he is actually holding.

The angles of these images looks more like the camera was held from below, in the Source the position of the model is emphasising this as his head is held quite high therefore making it seem like the camera is lower than it probably was, the use of this angle makes the subject look bigger and emphasises his face, similarly on the cover of Vanity Fair the position of the model is similar in terms of the head as it is also raised slightly which has a similar effect in emphasising her face.

On The Source cover the face tattoo that is on the subject lefts side is also emphasised as it has a shade of red running through it which has been pulled out and emphasised by the red text on the magazine, similarly the shade of grey in the masthead of Vanity Fair also emphasises the contrasting silvery grey that runs through the black outfit the model is wearing.

To conclude, the different colours, angles, lighting, composition and contrasts throughout photographs play an important role in where they eye is drawn therefore are things I will need to consider when I am taking photographs for my own magazine.