My Favorite Cover

Favorite

ESPN The Magazine, July 21, 2014, Venus Williams 

"No matter how much an athlete takes care of his or her body, it's clear that a spot on the cover of The Body Issue is for only the most confident of subjects. Venus Williams, one-half of the tennis-playing Williams sisters, accepted a request from ESPN The Magazine after having declined in the past. The pose shows Williams sans clothes, of course, but with a majesty that could be cause for her to participate again. Though sister Serena sometimes overshadows Venus, a former world No. 1 player in her own right, Venus is center state for this cover in front of the lenses of Williams + 

Hirakawa, a husband-and-wife photography team. They capture Venus' beauty and strength in presenting an alluring portrait from a shoot that took place amid a Miami rock quarry. The mounds of fine sand serve as a perfect backdrop for the tennis star's powerful yet graceful physique and make her appear larger than life."

I like how the photo's background is very simple bringing attention to Venus Williams instead of something else behind her. I also think that it is interesting that she is not looking directly looking at the photo keeping this from being an over sexualized piece of fashion photography. I think it is kind of weird that Venus does not have any clothes on but I also think it is nice because you can see things like cellulite which you typically do not see on models on magazine covers. The portrait communicates a sense of being a real person and courage by showing her without anything on and staring off in the distance. In all, I really like this magazine cover.