Artist Research Rhiane Cunningham BTEC Photography Book cover brief
Photographic only covers The Last Skin
The River Wife
By Barbara Ras
By Jonis Agee
Heavily edited covers The Scribe
The House Of Hades
By Elizabeth Hunter
By Rick Riordan
Photographic based collage covers Girlchild
A Death In Summer
By Tupelo Hauunan
By Benjamin Black
Traditional collage covers The Goldfinch
Butterfly in the Typewriter
By Donna Tartt
By Cory MacLauchlin
Art based cover All Change
Blankets
By Elizabeth Jane Howard
By Craig Thompson
Graphic covers Double Shot By Anna Blundy
You Had Me At Hello By Mhairi McFarlane
The River Wife By Jonis Agee
Genre : Fiction Synopsis : When the earthquake brings Annie Lark’s Missouri house down on top of her, she finds herself pinned under the massive roof beam, facing certain death. Rescued by French fur trapper Jacques Ducharme, Annie learns to love the strong, brooding man and resolves to live out her days as his “River Wife.” http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/281691.The_River_Wife The front cover of The River Wife visually illustrates the contents of this book by showing a woman that look like she's drowning in water, wearing a white dress that could be seen as a wedding dress which links well to the name of the book. I think that the front cover helps describe the book because the woman in the picture is shown to be drowning and is facing death, which is what happens in the book where the main character ‘Annie Lark’ is faced with being stuck under a roof beam, facing death. I think the effect of the placement of the text is that is really focus’ the reader to the woman and helps link the two together. I also like how the font is a clean san serif, I think that this makes the picture still stand out, and makes the picture look pure and links to the white dress again pushing more of the face she looks newly married. The formal elements that the designer has used to create this cover is the colour, because of her white dress, the designer didn’t want to distract you from it, so by choosing a white font, it in a way merges with the dress and looks like its apart of the picture so it doesn’t look out of place and unnatural. The designer has used a clean font, this helps carry on the softness of the picture which means there's nothing that is to harsh which will ruin the picture, and I think that this is successful. The composition was also something that I think is successful because having the woman go from top centre to bottom centre really gives the sense of her floating, which helps link with the dress which also looks like it’s floating because of the water. This floating feel links with the pureness of the picture and give an angel feel to her and something that is able to float. The way the woman looks pure creates confusion as it makes the reader feel that she's purposely drowning rather than she's gasping for air. The way the designer has used the reflection of the water works well because it shows that she is underwater, and it also obscures her face, which makes the reader want to know more about her and wants to try to connect to her, to find out what's happening. I think that this front cover is successful because it will intrigue the reader, but I think that from the synopsis given its hard to understand where the river part comes into the story, this helps me understand when I make my book covers I will want to make sure the cover and the synopsis link well. I do feel that the picture is visually strong and powerful which is very eye catching.
The Scribe
By Elizabeth Hunter Genre : Fiction Hidden at the crossroads of the world, an ancient race battles to protect humanity, even as it dies from within. Ava Matheson came to Istanbul looking for answers, but others came looking for her. A reckless warrior guards her steps, but will Malachi’s own past blind him to the truth of who Ava might be? While ancient forces gather around them, both Ava and Malachi search for answers. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18298132-the-scribe The front cover of The Scribe visually illustrates the contents of this book by showing the place that it is set in ‘Istanbul’ and also shows one of the characters Malachi. This helps the readers get familiar to the setting and cant picture what it looks like and what Malachi looks like. Having the character topless shows he's strength and makes it look like he is getting prepared for a battle. I think the effect of the placement of the text is that the reader is able to still see the main part of the cover and it isn’t intrusive, yet it is large text so it stands out to make it noticeable. The font links well with the story as its got an ancient look to it, making it look quite old and fantasy like. The formal elements that the designer has used to create this cover is the composition, making the man in the centre of the cover makes him the main focus, and in the background is the ancient world, that he is looking over, this gives the sense of a battle or something that the character is going to have to face with. Another formal element that the designer had to use was the depth of field as he had to make the man in focus and the world out of focus. I think that this front cover is quite successful in portraying the story of the book, I think that it’s a strong front cover and has been edited well. The cover definitely shows some main parts of the story, such as the setting and I think this is good because people can then have a better understanding of what it is like.
Girlchild
Tupelo Hauunan Genre : Fiction Synopsis : Rory Hendrix, the least likely of Girl Scouts, hasn’t got a troop or a badge to call her own. But she still borrows the Handbook from the elementary school library to pore over its advice, looking for tips to get off the Calle—the Reno trailer park where she lives with her mother, Jo, the sweet-faced, hard-luck bartender at the Truck Stop. Rory’s been told she is one of the “third-generation bastards surely on the road to whoredom,” and she’s determined to break the cycle. As Rory struggles with her mother’s habit of trusting the wrong men, and the mixed blessing of being too smart for her own good, she finds refuge in books and language. From diary entries, social workers' reports, story problems, arrest records, family lore, and her grandmother’s letters. The front cover of Girlchild visually illustrates the contents of this book by showing the home of where Rory Hendrix lives. The picture shows how distant it is from any civilization and life, this gives a sense that they’re very recluse and distant form them world because of the big field and the few cars that are parked. Also having most of the cover the sky again esensuates the fact that they live somewhere quite empty. The empty open area that this picture portrays makes you feel that Rory Hendrix and her mother are quite poor and haven't got much luxury in their life. the struggle of their life. The use of the collage of the letter, makes you think that a big part of the story is revolved around letters or some form of reports that is stated in the synopsis because it is the main focus of the cover. Also the front cover includes the main characters name ‘Rory Hendrix’ which illustrates the contents of the book. I think that the effect of the placement of the text is that it really looks apart of the cover and story because it is used as the text for the letter as well, this is good because it doesn't’t look obstructive and out of place. By having a typewriter font, it makes the front cover again look like it is apart of the story, because it feels real. I do think that because the text looks apart of the cover and is very small, it doesn't’t stand out and capture someone's attention. The formal elements that the designer has used to create this cover is the composition, because they decided to put the picture at the bottom of the cover and have most of the background just the sky. They done this for two reasons, one being that because of the letter taking up most of the space of the cover, the picture would be obstructed so having it at the bottom you are able to see it clearly. Another reason is that by having the picture at the bottom and most of the cover the sky, it pushes the fact that where Rory Hendrix and her mother live somewhere quite empty and open. I think that this front cover is successful because of the collage of the letter, doing this makes it look real, so you feel that you are involved in the story. I also think that the picture works well with illustrating the content of the book, helping show what the setting of this book it like.
The Goldfinch Donna Tartt
Genre : Fiction Synopsis : When the earthquake brings Annie Lark’s Missouri house down on top of her, she finds herself pinned under the massive roof beam, facing certain death. Rescued by French fur trapper Jacques Ducharme, Annie learns to love the strong, brooding man and resolves to live out her days as his “River Wife.” http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/281691.The_River_Wife The front cover of The River Wife visually illustrates the contents of this book by showing a woman that look like she's drowning in water, wearing a white dress that could be seen as a wedding dress which links well to the name of the book. I think that the front cover helps describe the book because the woman in the picture is shown to be drowning and is facing death, which is what happens in the book where the main character ‘Annie Lark’ is faced with being stuck under a roof beam, facing death. I think the effect of the placement of the text is that is really focus’ the reader to the woman and helps link the two together. I also like how the font is a clean san serif, I think that this makes the picture still stand out, and makes the picture look pure and links to the white dress again pushing more of the face she looks newly married. The formal elements that the designer has used to create this cover is the colour, because of her white dress, the designer didn’t want to distract you from it, so by choosing a white font, it in a way merges with the dress and looks like its apart of the picture so it doesn’t look out of place and unnatural. The designer has used a clean font, this helps carry on the softness of the picture which means there's nothing that is to harsh which will ruin the picture, and I think that this is successful. The composition was also something that I think is successful because having the woman go from top centre to bottom centre really gives the sense of her floating, which helps link with the dress which also looks like it’s floating because of the water. This floating feel links with the pureness of the picture and give an angel feel to her and something that is able to float. The way the woman looks pure creates confusion as it makes the reader feel that she's purposely drowning rather than she's gasping for air. The way the designer has used the reflection of the water works well because it shows that she is underwater, and it also obscures her face, which makes the reader want to know more about her and wants to try to connect to her, to find out what's happening. I think that this front cover is successful because it will intrigue the reader, but I think that from the synopsis given its hard to understand where the river part comes into the story, this helps me understand when I make my book covers I will want to make sure the cover and the synopsis link well. I do feel that the picture is visually strong and powerful which is very eye catching.
All Change
Elizabeth Jane Howard Genre : Fiction Synopsis: It is the 1950s and as the Duchy, the Cazalets’ beloved matriarch, dies, she takes with her the last remnants of a disappearing world – of houses with servants, of class and tradition – in which the Cazalets have thrived. Louise, now divorced, becomes entangled in a painful affair; while Polly and Clary must balance marriage and motherhood with their own ideas and ambitions. Hugh and Edward, now in their sixties, are feeling illequipped for this modern world; while Villy, long abandoned by her husband, must at last learn to live independently. But it is Rachel, who has always lived for others, who will face her greatest challenges yet . . . Events converge at Christmas; as a new generation of Cazalets descend on Home Place. Only one thing is certain: nothing will ever be the same again. http:// www.amazon.co.uk/Change-Cazalet-Chronicles-Elizabeth-Howard/dp/0230743072 The front cover of All Change visually illustrates the contents of this book by showing the centre point of the book, the house, where everything is based around with the characters and stories. It also shows leafless trees and snow, showing how it is winter throughout the book, but also it links with the death of the matriarch. I think the effect of the placement of the text is that it brings a lot of the focus to the name of the author, because Elizabeth Jane Howard is a famous author so she would want he name to stand out for the buyers. I also like the font as I feel it fits with the theme of the 1950s. The formal elements that the designer has used to create this cover is the colour, because the designer used the colour red to be the only prominent colour, with black, ahite and a hint of blue. The use of red makes the cover very powerful and strong as red is a strong colour. Again the autors name is in red, bringing focus to her name. I think the use of this colour is successful because It makes the book cover stand out. The compositon of this cover I think Is successful because the person who drew the design took into concideration of the text and left space for it, which I feel makes the cover all revolve around the text to make it stand out. I also think that the placement of the house creates depth of field because of the trees in the foreground. I think that this front cover is successful because it makes the cover stand out, and creates a lot of depth in the drawing. I think that it links well with the synopsis, because it shows the house of where a lot of the story takes place and it also shows the snow and links to the death of the matriarch. .
Double Shot Anna Blundy
Genre : Fiction Synopsis :Faith Zanetti doesn't much care who put the bomb on flight TAA67, the plane that blew up over the tiny Scottish village of Cairbridge twenty-five years ago. Wasn't it those Libyan blokes who went to prison for it? For a woman whose comfort zone is a war zone it seems like the boring assignment from hell. But as the conspiracy theories start seeming less theoretical and the threats get increasingly real, Faith realises she's skating on thin ice. With the ghost of her dead father creeping out of her dreams as Sicily erupts in violence around her, and the screams of the doomed passengers ringing in her ears, Faith begins to suspect that the truth she seeks might be closer to home than she thought . . . The front cover of Double Shot visually illustrates the contents of this book by showing lipstick on the teacup, this makes you think about the main character Faith is a strong woman, as the lipstick has the influence of someone strong and powerful. The background also makes you think Faith is strong because black is a strong colour. This makes sense as Faith used to be in the army. I think the effect of the placement of the text is that it links the cover to the book title and story. Also having the text in the centre of the cover makes it the main focus which captures the attention of the buyer. The formal elements that the designer has used to create this cover is the colour, because he had to think about colours the work together and the colours that clash. By having blues, pinks and reds makes the cover complimentary to each other, but using blacks and green browns makes the colours contrast and makes them stand out and clash, I think this is successful because it makes te book stand out from the clashing of colours.. The composition of this cover makes the title of the book the centre of the book witch makes the book stand out to the buyer. I think that this front cover is successful because it will stand out from other books because of the jarring colours. I think that it links well wth the synopsis but I do think that the designer should of shown more about her past or her new assignment.