Remember when I did the original chasejarvisLIVE photo shoot way back in winter? If you recall, I was shooting the album cover image for alt/punk country band Brent Amaker and the Rodeo. We also did post production and editing on the images LIVE as well a few weeks after the shoot. Well now it’s time to print these suckers on a limited edition run of vinyl and there is somewhat of a debate on which image is better.
Simply put, and with no further explanation, I thought I’d ask for your thoughts. So which is better, A or B?
Vote in the comments. Also love to know ‘why’ if you care to explain. 500 px wide images after the jump…
[ also, reminder that if you like music and you like chasejarvisLIVE, I’m hosting rising hip hip star RA Scion (of Common Market and Victor Shade) TODAY in 90 minutes at 10:30 pacific/1:30 eastern (GMT – 8). Interview with RA and Village Voice/Time Out/Stranger cultural critic Charles Mudede, plus RA performs LIVE at the end of the show. Hope to see you http://www.chasejarvis.com/live today….]A. With the foreground lady laying down…
OR.
B. With the foreground lady standing up…
Love to hear your thoughts.
A is better, A has a quality as there is more to discover, and more to explore. B is just the catch and its just over, being a cover people would be looking more than one time at the cover.
Cheers!
For an album cover, I prefer A. Actually, that’s not true. I prefer A for just about anything. I like how everyone forms a complete circle. The symmetry just works. The person standing up in A, leads my eye through the picture and overall it flows better. I like the lighting better as well. My only nit pick is what the heck is that on the far right with the yellowish green eye? I like that it’s missing in B.
As for B, I’m distracted with the female up front and I dislike how several people are chopped off in B. Three positives however, are the faces are brighter and it’s easier to see, but I still prefer the lighting in A better. The man on the far right does not look like he’s missing fingers, as it kind of did in A. The yellowish green eye thing is missing.
A gets my vote.
B is the more engaging shot. the vertical of the women is contrasted by the arrangment of the band, sofa, wall pictures etc. the edge of frame makes it more dramatic and the body shape in the fore front draws more attention to the image
– BUT –
it draws attention to the standing woman, not necessarily the band in the first place. that could be what you want.
if not, if attention should be drawn to the band then go A. the vertical arrangement of all, including the woman lying removes some drama/edge. the band become more tame, more dull if you will. Also the tonal contrast of A is lower the dress of the lying woman merges into the background visually. whereas in the B shot that contrast is more stark, creating more dynamics and tension.
If it was a CD cover I’d walk past A and stop for B
both are problematic for a album cover
b has lots of cut off heads, shoes, shoulders and is selling a female singer, obviously. who is just … average.
so b would be elected winner in most internet forums by … average posters
a is kind of last supper and more ambitious
B is the best, but you chopped her head off!