I think it depends from two factors - one is the situation which is shown on a photo. The second is what you as a photographer want to say. Eye contact often might be seens as more or less planned posing or trying to draw attention because of the camera and photographer present. In strictly street or documentary photos I avoid people looking straight in the camera, as I - as a photograher - want to photograh a situation I see without me being seen. When it is posed - it's the choice of photographer. But as on your example, I think the second photo is better. The girls is sort of isolated from the people surroudnign her - she is like in a different reality.
Eye contact - yes or not?
in Street & Documentary
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