1. Brief
2. Key Features of a Magazine Cover
3. Powerpoint Presentation – Deconstructions of 3 Music Magazine Covers
4. Blog Post – Deconstruction of 3 contents pages
5. Preliminary Task Flat Plans
6. Preliminary Task
7. Deconstructions of Double Page Spreads
8. Main Task Proposal Table
9. Inspirational Texts – Music Videos
10. Previous Students Work Table / Evaluation
11. Photoshop Skills Development 1 – Jarvis Cocker Task
12. Photoshop Skills Development 2 – The Simpsons Poster Task
13. Stage 2 Magazine Proposal
14. Institutional Research
15. Proposal Table with Potential Problems
16. Audience Research and Analysis of Data
17. Front cover, contents and DPS flat planswith written rationale
18. The Recce
19. Photoshoot Planning
20. Emails organising models / locations forphoto shoots
21. The Conventions, The Producer and TheTarget Audience of My Text
22. Fonts with commentary
23. Colour pallette
24. Photographs – which ones used, which onesyou haven’t used and why
25. Final Front Cover / Contents Page / Double Page Spread
26. Evaluation ( 1 2 3 4 5/6 7 )
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Evaluation 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?
The
target audience of my magazine will be mainly females from the age of 15 to 25.
However, the magazine will also be accessible to males as the articles will
have variety in genres. I chose to have the age 15 to 25 as i see this as the
main age for people to explore different types of music, as they are usually
still in education and have free time to enjoy them. I have aimed the magazine
at people, who attend concerts regularly; hence the live reviews that will be
included, as well as they being more interest bases people who are opinionated
and do not usually follow society’s trends. From the graphs I created from my
audience research, I have gathered information which would shape who i would
aim my magazine at. These graphs can be found below.
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Evaluation 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The
title of the magazine “SHADE”, shown in photo 1, uses the typical conventions
real media products. The use of one word is simplistic and easy to remember,
similar to most magazines. The placement is typical in western cultures as
people who read the magazines read from left to right; therefore it is placed
in the top left corner. Having it placed there will allow it to be identified
easily as it the first thing the reader would see. The mise-en-scene uses some
elements of the typical media products but also challenges them. Photo 2 and 3
shows my front cover which contains elements of mise-en-scene such as having
the image centred and having a lack of props and extravagant costume. These
elements will entice the reader while not overwhelming them with too much
visual imagery. However, it also goes against the usual conventions by having
the image in black and white and making sure the model wasn’t looking at the
camera. Usually magazines have their text unique and different depending on
what it is being used for, so i went against this convention. Instead of using
a unique text i used, shown in photo 4, is very similar to the masthead which
shows continuity. However, it is also obvious when the text is different by
using several colours that one colour is more important than the other. In
picture 5, the written article is shown which has a mostly formal feel to make
it appear professional, similar to other magazines of the genre. My magazine
follows the trend of covering the indie genre as well as some of mainstream culture,
which combines elements of different magazine types. The coverage inside the
magazine varies to allow a larger audience as there are potential articles
about underground, alternative and mainstream music. The layout of my magazine
is simple and follows the usual conventions such as having the subheads and
sell lines frame my image on the front cover. The contents page also follows
the conventions such as using an equal amount of images to make it appear neat.
It also has the content box on the right of the page and has a subscription box
close to it, therefore the reader will see it and be tempted to use the
subscription service.
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Previous Students Work Table / Evaluation
Name
of product
|
What I
thought were the strengths
|
What I
thought were the weaknesses
|
ID Magazine
|
Front
Cover
The front cover includes all the necessary
information and the expected conventions of a front cover. It has correct
information and no spelling mistakes. Also, the main sell point in obvious
and eye catching, while the main image is framed correctly.
Content
Page
The contents page includes the masthead, a
website address for the magazine and some information from the front cover.
Images from their articles listened in the ‘FEATURES’ column are on the page
which gives a visual representation of the featured articles. The text is
simple and to the point, with the relevant information. Such as band names.
Are emphasised to be more eye catching.
Double
Page Spread
The images look professional and well lit,
making the image more appealing to the audience. It features a pull quote,
which will encourage them to read the article. They also include brief
information about the artist for anyone who dos not know them. The three
colours used work well together, with the darker being used as the background
for the general page and the interviewers text. The text is simple and easy
to read.
|
Front
Cover
The main image is pixelated and not very well
edited, using only novice skills of Photoshop. The masthead is also poorly
edited and uses an unattractive font. The sell lines are not eye catching and
the main sell point would not attract an audience as there is nothing
exclusive or eye catching about it.
Content
Page
They continue to use the masthead font for
headers on this page, which is not visually stimulating and could repel
people from the magazine. The images are also taken from the internet that
would have cause the magazine to drop marks. They also repeat information that
is unnecessary as it is on the front cover already.
Double
Page Spread
Similar to the front cover, the only image
used in this spread is pixelated and slightly blurry. The colour scheme used
is bland and unappealing, using dull colours to contrast with the black and
white text. The little overview they gave look awkward over the image and is
poorly placed.
|
SESH
|
Front
Cover
The main image is evenly lit and the colours
are bright and vivid. It is obvious
which sell line is the main sell point and the text is position well and
doesn’t draw attention from the image. The fonts used are bold and can be
seen from great distance, making them eye catching. The text is simple and
punchy, making it easy for the reader to see what is included in the
magazine.
Content
Page
The masthead is present along with necessary
information in the header. The text is simple and bold, with subheads giving
information more information about certain articles. The font is the same as
the one on the cover, and the text does not overlap the image used. It is
worth noting that they included a subscription offer, which most magazines
also include in their contents page
Double
Page Spread
The spread also features the masthead, much
like the cover and contents page. The background colour has been throughout
all the pages and the text stands out against it. The same front is used
again and they include a pull quote. The image is smaller than usual which
allows more room for the text.
|
Front
Cover
The image used on the front cover is
pixelated and badly cut out from its original background that makes it appear
unprofessional and uses images from the internet that would cost them marks.
The background image is bright yellow, which would draw attention to it, in a
negative way, and the red text would also the same. The masthead is pixelated
and the font is unappealing.
Content
Page
The content page continues to use the bright
yellow background and images from the internet. The images used are pixelated
and small, leaving lots of blank space.
Double
Page Spread
The masthead is unnecessarily used on the
page, with the headline being plain and not eye catching. The image is
awkwardly placed in the corner, is extremely pixelated and looks
unprofessional. They do not seem to be connected to the main image on the cover
also.
|
From looking at these student's work i have noticed that pixelation of images is common, therefore i will use a high resolution camera to tackle the issue. I have also noticed that blank spaces are left on the page, which i will not have as i will fill the areas with text or photos. Having photoshop skills to edit images is also essential as both students had problems editing their photos to a good standard. However, i also have picked up that i should use a colour palette to make my work appear clear and show continuity. The use of the usual conventions of a magazine will also help improve my work as it will be familiar to my target audience. Emphasis is also important as it will draw in readers to gain a larger readership.
Photographs – which ones used, which ones you haven’t used and why
Fonts with commentary
The Conventions, The Producer and The Target Audience of My Text
In
regards to my front cover, i will keep the conventions shown on normal front
covers. The main image will be black a white, which is not a normal convention,
but will be centred to make the model central to the cover. The body language of
the model will have them be drawn into themselves and not looking into the
camera to make them appear mysterious. The subheads that i will use will show
main articles in the magazine as well as a hook to draw the reader in. The font
used for the logo will be very similar to the one used for the subheads to show
continuity through the magazine. The choice of words on the cover will appear
slightly formal so it will appear professional and well written. The regular
style of composition of a front cover, Masthead on the top right with subheads
framing the main image, will be used and will incorporate a colour palette to
show the difference between the subheads and the main sell line. The colour
palette will also be used on the contents page and double page to set a theme
for the magazine. Using the familiar conventions will attract my target
audience as it isn’t obscure, but the formal language will show the magazine is
professional, something my target audience would like.
If
my magazine were to be published in the “real world”, i would have Future
Publishing publish the magazine. Since they publish over 150 magazines in
different genres, they would be able to get involved in the music magazine
market through this magazine. They distribute nationwide which means the
magazine could get to anybody who wanted to purchase the magazine. As they do
not produce a magazine which is similar to the genre of my own, this means they
would be open to a new market and possibly a new target audience. The many
magazines they publish attract every kind of target audience and have gained
moderate success with each. This could benefit my magazine as they would know how
to market the magazine to the right audience, using past experience as a guide.
The
target audience of my magazine will be mainly females from the age of 15 to 25.
However, the magazine will also be accessible to males as the articles will
have variety in genres. I chose to have the age 15 to 25 as i see this as the
main age for people to explore different types of music, as they are usually
still in education and have free time to enjoy them. I have aimed the magazine
at people, who attend concerts regularly, hence the live reviews that will be
included, as well as they being more internet based people who are opinionated
and do not usually follow society’s trends. This would allow the magazine to
write about a wider variety of topics in the magazine which can stem from
music. As the magazine is published monthly, my target audience do not necessarily
have to shop often to buy it as it will be available for the full month in physical
form, as well as it being available online for them.
I
think that the magazine could be sold in newsagents as well as more popular
stores like WHSmiths and supermarkets as they commonly sell music magazines among
other types. I also think it could be distributed to music stores as it is an music
based magazine and could be sold alongside albums that are featured in the
magazine.
Saturday, 16 March 2013
Emails organising models / locations for photo shoots
Below is an email i sent to my model a few weeks before the shoot to remind him of the details of the photoshoot including the time/date/location of it.
Photoshoot Planning
What emotional impact do you want your photography do have
upon the reader? How?
The photography used is pretty basic but the black and white
themes of the photos will show a little of the sadness portrayed in the
article. The reader will reflect this feeling.
What personnel do you need? Who are you going to photograph?
I am using one model to be the photos, as well as them
providing a bass guitar as a prop, and i will be taking the photos and editing
them.
What props will you need?
The only prop i will need is a bass guitar, which is used in
one shot for the interview, which will be provided by the model.
How are you going to emphasise colour?
To emphasise the colour, i will add layers on photoshop
which will make it more vibrant and edit the hue and saturation of the colours.
Also in one of the photos, i will emphasise the colour of the model’s shirt by
making the rest of the photo black and white.
Have you briefed your personnel/models?
I have told my models where the photos have been taken, what
they are for and what to wear to the photoshoot. I have also told them the
time/date/location.
What lighting will you need? Any other equipment?
The only lighting i will use in the flash on my camera as
there will no natural lighting when i am taking the photos.
Where will you shoot? Will you need a backdrop?
I will shoot around certain areas of Newcastle City Centre,
using the landscape as the backdrop.
Make-up? Costume?
The photographs are supposed to look casual so no makeup was
required for the model, and the costume was just casual clothing which is
connotated with the genre of music he is in.
Friday, 15 March 2013
Final Front Cover / Contents Page / Double Page Spread
The Reece
1. Are there any potential hazards that
could pose a health and safety risk where your photo shoot will take place
(trailing cables/traffic/other objects )?
There were some potential hazards on my shoot as it was outdoors in a city centre, at night. There were some risks of traffic as well as distractions around them.
2. What will you do to ensure these risks
are minimised?
To minimise the risk i will do the shoot with plenty of caution and make sure to stay away from any immediate hazards, such as traffic.
3. Will the time of day/weather affect the
outcome of the photos? Have you allowed for this?
The time and weather will affect the photos as it is outdoors. However i have planned it to be taken during the night so i have prepared for darker weather. The outcome of my photos will still be a high quality as i will use the flash on my camera and photo editing later to brighten to the photos.
4. Have you considered the background to
your photos, particularly if taken outside? How will you ensure you will get
the background you want?
The background of my photos will vary as they are taken at different locations but the cover photo will be on a background which has little depth and appears to be matt.
5. Have you considered lighting? What
about the ‘problems’ of natural lighting, either outside, or streaming through
a window? Will you need to use a flash? Have you considered reflective objects
that might spoil the effect?
As it will be dark during the time the photos are taken, there will be very little natural lighting. However i will be using a flash to lighten the initial photo, before re lightening them in photoshop. There are no reflective objects or props in the shoot which could cause problems.
6. Do you need permission to take photos
in the place/venue you have in mind?
The place where i took the photos is closed down with no apparent owner, therefore i took the photos there.
7. Do you need to book time in a room (eg
the photography studio at Shiney)?
No because i am using software at home to edit images and using public areas to take them.
8. Are other people/crowds likely to be an
issue for you? What have you done to ensure that it will not spoil the effect?
The area i am taking the photos in has very people around during the night so crowds would not be a problem.
9. Are you reliant on lifts/props/friends’
equipment/models? How have you planned that these things will come together at
the appointed time? Plan B?
I was semi-reliant on the model as i needed him for the actual photo, and he was providing the prop we used for a photo. Everything else was in my power so i could organise it easily to fit in with the models schedule.
10. Finally, have you thought of every
eventuality…?
I have considered many outcomes of what could happen in the photo shoot and created alternatives which can be used if necessary.
Audience Research and Analysis of Data
When planning for my magazine i
created a multiple question survey which i put on various social networks and
asked people to complete it. 9 People completed the survey and below are the
most relevant questions and answers in the form of graphics.
The first question enquired about
the person’s gender which is essential for my magazine as it is aimed primarily
at females. Although more males (56%) took the survey, i think the magazine
will be accessibly to both genders.
Next i asked about the age of the
person taking the quiz. Matching my results, i am aiming at 15-17 year olds as
this was the majority of the results. However, it will be accessible to people of
any age who are interested in music.
To find out what platforms people
discover new music, I found that people find their music on YouTube or through
friends while Magazines and other platforms was the least popular way. To help
people discover new music, i would not only feature music in the magazine but
also embed new videos into the website.
As the magazine will have a lot of variety in the articles,
i also asked which style of article they preferred. The majority answered ‘Interviews’
and ‘Album Review’ type articles therefore i am mostly having those style in my
magazine. However, i will also include a few live reviews and feature articles
as they also received a significant amount of votes.
With my information i have concluded that my choice of
target audience is suitable but it helped shape some of the decisions i will
make about the content of my magazine. I have also included the rest of my
results in the form of a table which includes general questions about music
1. What is your gender?
|
||
Female
|
4
|
|
Male
|
5
|
|
2. What is your age?
|
||
<10
|
0
|
|
12 to 14
|
0
|
|
15 to 17
|
8
|
|
18 to 20
|
0
|
|
21 to 23
|
0
|
|
24 to 26
|
0
|
|
27 to 29
|
0
|
|
30 <
|
1
|
|
|
||
Alternative
|
1
|
|
Classical
|
0
|
|
Comedy
|
0
|
|
Country
|
0
|
|
Dance
|
0
|
|
Electronic
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
Hip-hop / Rap
|
1
|
|
Indie
|
1
|
|
Industrial
|
0
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
0
|
|
Pop Punk
|
2
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
1
|
|
Singer/Songwriter
|
0
|
|
Soundtrack
|
0
|
|
Others
|
3
|
|
|
||
Radio
|
3
|
|
Friend
|
5
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
7
|
|
On various social networks
|
4
|
|
Magazines
|
2
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
4
|
|
Others
|
2
|
|
6. How much would you be willing to
pay for a weekly music magazine?
|
||
|
2
|
|
£1.01 - £2.00
|
1
|
|
£2.01 - £3.00
|
4
|
|
|
2
|
|
£4.01 - £5.00
|
0
|
|
£5.01 <
|
0
|
|
7. What type of articles do you
prefer?
|
||
|
5
|
|
|
4
|
|
Live Review
|
3
|
|
Feature Articles
|
3
|
|
|
2
|
|
Others
|
2
|
|
|
||
NME
|
1
|
|
Q
|
0
|
|
|
7
|
|
Rocksound
|
1
|
|
9. What intensives will make you
want to buy a magazine?
|
||
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
Online Extras
|
2
|
|
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