Eye contact
Visual category: Eye contact
“Take a look in to my eyes, tell what you see.” —Mirror, Mirror, by Def Leppard
Album covers that feature a direct gaze from the artist are deeply engaging. They permit a “windows in to the soul” view of communication that invites and challenges the viewer to connect with the artist.
A direct gaze on an album cover can be inviting, confrontational, mysterious, even humorous. And they do make for some effective, memorable covers.
Note: This photo of 12-year-old Sharbat Gula is one of the best examples of an eye contact photo. The Afghan girl was photographed by photojournalist Steve McCurry in 1984, and the image was published on the cover of National Geographic magazine.