Compare and contrast the cover with another magazine cover, drawing attention to the similarities and differences, and saying what the genre codes and conventions are.
These are both covers of well-known music magazines, MOJO and Q. MOJO presents David Bowie as the main splash, he is the main centre of focus and is seen standing tall and confident. He has his hands behind his back as if saying he needs no defence and he is gazing at the camera with his chin slightly lowered, showing no one has any authority over him. He is wearing smart but casual clothes, a plaid t-shirt with a tie with the same pattern on it as if to blend in and is wearing a light blue blazer/jacket along with jeans and heavy boots. All of this is presented in a way that is smart, as if for the occasion, but also classy and casual. The other things on this cover all are important but do not draw away too much from the main photo, the first thing that you notice when you see this is 'Bowie' and the photo of him. There is also a lot of negative space as to not make it appear too clustered.
Similar to the other there is also one large main splash which in this case is Ed Sheeran. He is shown as being sort of 'puppy like', , someone that we all love and adore, especially with his affectionate, large, enhanced blue eyes. However, despite this he features are quite defined as to not seem too vulnerable. He is wearing casual dark leather clothes which partially blend in with the negative space around him while his face and guitar have strong lighting on them, for this is where the meaning is held in this photo. There is a lot less negative space in this but it still does not appear clustered for it is well organised and the fact that that everything other then Ed Sheeran himself have simple contrasting colours, which also helps your eyes not be too drawn away from the main splash but to also notice them.
Similarities in these two magazines include that they both have one large, main center of focus that is an image, with their upper-body, both overlapping any text or photos that are there, and large, bold writing of their name across their chest. Also, both are very well known and quite influential artists. Both have set colour schemes (e.g MOJO, blue, yellow and white; Q, red, white and black). They both have cover lines which briefly say what is featured inside the magazine.
Differences between the two include that in the MOJO magazine it is mainly focused on Bowie's upper-body, clothes and face, where as in the Q magazine it is focused on his face and instrument and as little as possible notice is placed on the clothes which are black and blend in. Bowie gives off more of a confident tall, chest protruding, stern look, but Ed Sheeran looks smaller and more caring and more sympathetic. The MOJO magazine appears to be a tribute dead artists with Bowie as the main figure but the Q magazine is about the story's of artists.
