thatcovergirl.com

As someone who has to browse through hundreds of stock photos every year for her job, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to come across a photo that doesn’t scream “Stick me in a human resources training video!” The difference between looking for a stock photo that doesn’t look like a stock photo and actually gazing at a photographer’s website for the sheer joy of gazing is pretty indescribable.

I was over on Society6′s website just two nights ago looking at all of the different gorgeous art prints, when a particular photo series caught my eye:

Photo by Heather Landis

If you’re a fan of YA lit and haven’t been living under a rock for the last 6 months, you know exactly which cover this beautiful photo belongs to. I was beyond excited to finally discover the photographer behind the print, the lovely Heather Landis (who has given me the thumbs up to plaster her awesome work all over this post.) Landis is not only a professional photographer, but a retoucher and illustrator to boot.

What’s more, Mara Dyer’s cover photo comes from Landis’ Abyss of the Disheartened photo series. I’ve posted a few here but I highly recommend you check out the rest on her website.

They are gorgeous, no? I’ve been completely intrigued ever since I saw the cover art and read the mysterious summary for Michelle Hodkin’s debut novel. I can only imagine the Simon & Schuster art director coming across Landis’ work and saying, “THIS. This one belongs to Mara Dyer.” Beautiful work, Heather.

For even more photo-ogling, be sure to check out her Flickr site, too.