PHOTOGRAPHY: BEFORE AND AFTER.

I decided to use this picture for my double page spread. It features the same artists as those on the front cover, as they are the main feature in my magazine. Background wise, i used the same stone wall as i wanted a continuity within the photographys. The models are wearing the same as in the front cover, so they are recognized straight away.

When editing this phorograph, i first changed the exposure and contrast. Afterwards, i changed the effect of the photograph to monochrome, as the style of the double page spread will fit in with this well. As well as adjusting the effects, i also cropped unneccesary fractions out of the background, and edited a beard onto one of the models, Tom.

PHOTOGRAPHY: BEFORE AND AFTER.

 This photograph was included in my contents page. The photograph is of one of the artists featured within the magazine. I used the stone wall as a background again as it connotes rebellion, and is also included in different photographs i have researched through different rock magazines.

When editing this image, i first decided i wanted to use a monochrome effect, as the other images in my contents page follow this sort of similar style. As well as changing the image effect, i also adjusted the exposure and contrast.

PHOTOGRAPHY: BEFORE AND AFTER.

This shot was taken outside the middle campus of Ludlow College. I decided to use a stone wall as a background in order to reflect a sophisticated and rebellious look. My 'models' are Tom and Jake; both two people who i think reflect my chosen sub-genre. Their clothing consists of a leather jacket, a band t shirt, a checkered shirt, a beanie and wristbands. After researching existing rock musicians, i discovered they follow the same sort of dress sense. The props in this photograph are a guitar, and a cigarette; things associated with rebellious 'rockers'.

I decided to use this image as my front cover, as the guitar and the rock like hand gesture really reflect my chosen genre of music. I edited my photos using the online programme 'ipiccy'. First i cropped out a fraction of the background, and altered the exposure and contrast. I then decided to use a sepia effect, as no effect would look 'boring' and normal, but a black and white effect might of clashed with the features of the front cover. Also in the process, i added a 'beard' to Tom, to create a more older impresion, and also to connote coolness.

Planning for photography: Costumes.

TIME MANAGEMENT UPDATE

Front cover, contents and double page spread complete apart from images needed. Images will be collected this week. and magazine should be completed by next tuesday.

Audience Feedback Questions

Double Page Spread

How do you think i could improve the layout of my double page spread?

Do you think the language within my text refers to my sub-genre of my magazine?

Where do you think my d.p.s image should be placed? (On the left/ overlapping behind the text..?)

How could i improve my colour scheme?

Contents Page

On average, how many images do you think i should use?

In your opinion, do you think there is a sufficient amount of features within my contents? Do i need more?

Should i include puff within my contents page? If so, where and what of? E.g tickets, merchandise, etc.

Should i have a specific background image/ colour? If so, what?

 Front Cover

Who should i include for my central image? ( A band/ solo artist?)

 When you see the layout and fonts of my front cover.. do you think they relate to my sub genre?

Do you think i have enough coverlines on my front cover? If not, how many more would i need? 

Is my puff noticable? Does it draw the reader in? How could i improve it? 

Work in progress: Double Page Spread

Before i began creating my double page spread, i had already made a plan of where i wanted the features to go. I have decided to have the image of the band at focus on the left hand side, and the text of the article on the right. My masthead is placed at the top of the right hand page, as when doing my research, i noticed that a lot of magazines relating to my music genre also use this positioning. The bands name within my masthead is in bold, capitilized, and also includes a serif. This enables it to catch the target audiences eye. The caption of the masthead 'taking over the uk by storm' is in a 'scrawly' yellow font; the yellow and sharpness connoting lightning (in referance to storm). 

I decided to split my text up into three columns; the text being boxed. As the subject of the article is a new band coming to the UK, i decided to use the colours red, white and blue within the text; representing the United Kingdom flag. I have decided to use a drop capital to begin my article as many double page spreads i researched also used one to signify the bginning of the text. Within the article, i have also included pull quotes; standing out in a bright yellow, to attract the reader and engage them with the article. As this is a work in progress, the image is still needed which i shall collect prior to Fridays lesson.

Work in progress: Contents Page

When designing my contents page, i referred closely to the contents page which is used in Hammer; wanting to include majority of the conventions/ features in which they use. Firstly, i decided to place the title for my contents on the top left hand side, as this position is used frequently within a lot of magazines. Along the right hand side is an editors space, containing an insight or explanation about what is in the magazine, or anything the reader may want to know about the magazine. I have included eleven contents features, all sub-titles and captions detailing the target audience as to what is going to be included in the magazine, for example, articles, reviews, interviews, etc. 

I decided to follow the colour scheme of black, red and yellow, because i wanted a continuity in referance to the front colour, also, it relates to my specific sub-genre of music. The bold fonts, colours and serif i have used enable a clear structure, and help the contents stand out to the target audience. So far i have one image of a band that is featured within my magazine, however i aim to aqquire to more, both of features within, and also one of myself in the editors photograph box.

Work in progress: Puff, web and email

All magazines feature a puff on their front cover; an essential to add to the purpose of drawing the target audience in. Within most music magazines, this is normally a chance to win concert tickets, as readers of these specific magazines are moderately young, and spend their free time attending concerts of their preferred music genre. Hence why I have included a puff promoting a chance to win tickets of my specific sub-genre. Also on my front cover, I have included a web address and a email address at the bottom of the page, as some of the magazines I researched included this so readers are able to contact them.

Work in progress: Splash and Coverlines

When producing my front cover, I thought the best place to position the splash outlining the main article would be in the middle of the page. This way, it catches the target audience's eye. Also, bold fonts emphasises the objective to draw the reader in. As I had already included a red font within the masthead of the magazine, I decided to use white and yellow fonts to differentiate the other components from the masthead; The yellow being a bright colour, with its purpose being used for sub-titles, whereas the white is a neutral colour, outlining the content inside. For my content, I used typical features included in other magazines, such as interviews, articles, concert guides, reviews, etc. Following the standard normality of other metal magazines, this will attract the same target audience as those who may read magazines such as 'Hammer' and 'Kerrang'.

Work in progress: Menu Bar

After researching existing magazines similar to the sub-genre of music I have chosen to include within mine, I noticed that some of the different front covers had a 'menu' bar at the top; outlining different artists featured within the magazine. I thought this was an efficient way of promoting the features inside, so I decided to include it when producing my work.

Work in progress: Masthead

When creating my masthead for the front cover of my magazine, I decided to use the colours red and yellow to connote danger, and to reflect my chosen genre. I used capital letters to enhance the name of the magazine and to make it stand out to the target audience. When deciding the positioning of my masthead, after reviewing my research and a variety of magazines which are similar to mine (E.g. Hammer) I decided to place it top centre of my front cover to enable a clear structure, and so it follows the typical style of other magazines.

TIME MANAGEMENT UPDATE.

Front cover almost completed- central image still needed.
Contents almost complete- Couple of images needed.
Double page spread work in progress, text has been written to feature within.


Need to post screen shots on production work in progress; will do this Monday.


If images are collected this weekend, all work should be complete by Tuesday 8th December.

MASTHEAD IDEAS

Before beginning my magazine production, I used Adobe InDesign to design a variety of four different mastheads in which I may use for my magazine. I wanted my mastheads to connote a sense of danger, conspiracy and hell (hence the name of the magazine 'Inferno', Italian for hell.) I experimented with a close variety of colours; black and red. Black connotes gothic, whereas red connotes danger; reflecting the genre of my magazine. I used a variety of different fonts to try to gain an insight as to which one, whether bold or italics, would fit in with the sub-genre of my magazine. In conclusion, I decided to use design number 4.

Props for my photo shoot

Locations for my photography

Models i am going to use for my photography.

MODEL 1)

My first model will be of a  friend Garth. Garth portrays the rebellious rocker look as he dresses as the stereotype, and also has piercings and tattoos. He will be dressed in a shirt, baggy jeans, and be wearing a rocker dog collar.

MODELs 2,3

The models for my double page spread will be Gary and Patrick. They will be the band featured in my magazine and double page spread. They will be dressed unusually- portraying an abnormal sort of metal band. They will be dressed old fashionably in black and white.

Planning for production: Photography ideas

TIME MANAGEMENT UPDATE

I am currently up to date with my work regarding the action plan. I have completed all the work due over half term, however i am going to progress my flat plans further by creating mock up designs of my pages. I also need to post my contents analysis' on my blog.

FLAT PLAN OF A DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

FLAT PLAN OF CONTENTS PAGE

FLAT PLAN OF FRONT COVER

STYLE SHEET

SUMMARY OF PITCH FEEDBACK RESULTS.

After considering my target audiences feedback, I agree with majority of their ideas and statements relating to the design of my magazine. I have decided to name my magazine 'Inferno' (Meaning hell), as four out of the five of the people I asked thought it would be the most appropriate. The images I am going to use are going to reflect the sub-genre of the magazine. The images are going to be of music artists, appearing stereotypically like most heavy rock artists ( tattoos, piercings, dark clothes, etc.)

The content of my magazine is going to include all of what my target audience suggested. Interviews, competitions, up coming concerts and especially new music artists where there is a gap in the market within the rock genre. The colour scheme is going to be black, red and yellow. Majority of the backgrounds will be black with red and yellow fonts.

As my audience shared different views as to what the price of the magazine should cost, I have settled in the middle at £2.30. I think this is an appropriate price, and the magazine will definitely reflect the value for money.

PITCH FEEDBACK

MY PITCH

ANAYSIS OF A DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

ANALYSING A DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

TIME MANAGEMENT

Analysis of 1x contents and 1x DPS needed; i was unable to complete this the previous week as i wasn't at home and had no access to technology. These tasks will be completed by Thursday.

ANALYSIS OF KERRANG FRONT COVER

ANALYSIS OF KERRANG! FRONT COVER

INSTITUTION RESEARCH

INITIAL IDEAS FOR MY MUSIC MAGAZINE

MUSIC MAGAZINE MONTAGE

MUSIC GENRE WORDLE

ACTION PLAN

WEEK ONE: 6TH OCTOBER
- Introduce main task, post on blog.
- Post initial ideas for magazine on blog
- Post institution research on blog.
- Analyse two front covers from chosen sub-genre and post on blog.


WEEK TWO: 13TH OCTOBER
-Analyse 2x contents pages and 2x double page spreads from chosen sub-genre and post on blog.
- Begin to develop pitch using Prezi.


WEEK THREE: 20TH OCTOBER
- Present pitch, post pitch & audience feedback on blogs.
- Complete mock-ups of magazine pages
- Produce a style sheet which reflects the brand identity/ house style of the magazine.
- Organise models, locations, props, photo shoot and blog progress.

HALF TERM

WEEK FIVE: 3RD NOVEMBER

- Photoshoot for front cover

- Develop front cover: experimentation with layout, colour, font, language and photos.

WEEK SIX: 10TH NOVEMBER

-Develop front cover:  experimentation with layout, colour, font, language and photos.

WEEK SEVEN: 17TH NOVEMBER

-Develop contents cover:  experimentation with layout, colour, font, language and photos.

WEEK EIGHT: 24TH NOVEMBER

-Develop double page spread:  experimentation with layout, colour, font, language and photos.

WEEK NINE: 1ST DECEMBER

Develop design work in response to audience feedback.

WEEK TEN: 8TH DECEMBER

Finalise design of all pages

WEEK ELEVEN: 15TH DECEMBER

-Develop draft evaluation

TWO WEEKS CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY- DRAFT EVALUATION

WEEK FOURTEEN: 5TH JANUARY

-Develop evaluation

WEEK FIFTEEN: 12TH JANUARY

-Complete evaluation

-Final blog check

FINAL DEADLINE: FRIDAY 23 JANUARY

INTRODUCTION TO THE MAIN TASK

To produce the front cover, contents page and double page spread of a new music magazine relating to a genre of your choice.


All images and text used must be original and a minimum of four images per candidate.

EVALUATION: QUESTION SIX

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THIS PRODUCT?

When i began the preliminary task, the first technology i used was blogger, to create the place where i would keep all my work. I found blogger was incredibly simple and straightforward to use and is a useful way of storing my work. When creating my front cover and contents, i had to use a camera to take my pictures to use on my work. Having used a camera frequently, i did this without any difficulties. When designing, i used Indesign to construct my magazine, which i found was slightly more complicated, but overcame my difficulties as i progressed. The last program i used was Adobe Photoshop, which i found manageable as i have used it before in a previous media course. However, when editing photos using photoshop, it can be quite difficult cropping images to fit onto a certain background, so at one point, i had to use ipiccy to achieve this. Although blogger is a straightforward program to use, It does not include a wide variety of options when it comes to creating new posts. For example, there is only a limited amount of fonts and sizes you can use when typing out your post. However overall, i did not struggle a huge amount during my time creating the preliminary task.

EVALUATION: QUESTION FIVE

EVALUATION: QUESTION FOUR

Who would be the audience for your media product? 

The audience for my student magazine would be for students aged between 16 and 24. My magazine focuses on their basic interests; music, festivals, activities, etc, but also touches on the educational aspects of being a student. As some students may not be the type to purchase magazines, this magazine would be different; as its more enthusiastic and active, whereas less informative and formal. 

EVALUATION: QUESTION THREE

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? 

My magazine would be published by The Post Publishing Public Company Limited. This institution is based in Thailand, and delivers student magazines across England to colleges and universities. This company would want to distribute my magazine because it is fun, informal and laid back, and also the expenses/ costs are lower than existing ones, easier for the target audience to buy.

EVALUATION: QUESTION TWO

EVALUATION: QUESTION ONE

Student Magazine Front Cover And Contents Page

Mock Front Cover

Research Target Audience!

Research Target Audience!

What range of colours do you think should be included in the background? 

Josh: Contrasting colours, black and white, black and gold- opposite colours to make it stand out more.

Callum: Positive colours, light colours, e.g Blue. 

What sort of mode of address do you think is appropriate for this magazine? 

Josh: Informal and formal, but more informal.

Callum: Casual, informal, chilled.

What kind of images should be included in the contents page? E.g Locations, recreational, etc

Josh: Students enjoying themselves, festivals and also students working, happy over results, etc.  

Callum: Music topics- music pictures, etc

How should the people i use in my central image be portrayed?

Josh: Happy, enjoying themselves, conveying a sense of fun. 

Callum: Confident, happy.

What type of fonts should i use within the front cover of the magazine? E.g masthead, coverlines.

Josh: Big, bright and bold. 

Callum: Jump out the page, big fonts, snazzy. 

Fonts

Backgrounds

Colour Schemes

Initial Ideas For My Student Magazine

MASTHEAD

My masthead is going to be placed on the top left hand side of the magazine. The font will be bright, bold and red, attracting the readers attention to the magazine. The font will be placed over a white shape (e.g star, rectangle, etc.) which enhances the eye-catching purpose.

HOUSE STYLE

The background of my magazine will be black, using colourful photographs/ fonts over the top. This connotes a formal, however 'cool' approach to the magazine. Features such as the puff will be in brighter colours.

MODE OF ADDRESS

The mode of address will be informal, depicting the sense that this magazine is for people of a younger generation (students) - my target audience.

CONTENTS

The contents will portray a laidback, interesting and informal magazine. The contents will include interviews, latest film viewings (assembly rooms, cineworld) and different things which are occurring locally throughout the year which students may take a particular interest in. The contents will also include music; bands and solo artists, whether they be local or national. As well as recreational topics, there will be discounts, advice, and university information included for the students reading.

LAYOUT

The layout of the front cover and contents will be fairly simple, and not going into too much intricate detail.

CENTRAL IMAGE

The central image will be placed on the right/ centre side, with coverings overlapping on the left. The image will be of students, engaging socially, but with the photography and positioning being of a formal/ well approached manner.

Analysis of Front Cover and Contents of a student magazine

Generic Conventions Of A Student Magazine

Generic Conventions Of A Student Magazine

COLOUR SCHEME
Look at the choice of colours, variety of colours and the tone (Bright, pastel, dark).

The colour scheme will have to appeal to the chosen audience. Note specific examples in the products you look at and analyse and explain reasons for these choices.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Style of photography used. Live or studio? Posed or natural? Bright or dull? How are the people posed? Camera angles? Focal point? Look at the mise en scene to see what it can tell you.

The style and content of photgraphy used can be important to the audience. Rock music- live events. Pop magazine- studio shoot. Consider style and content and reasons for these choices.

WRITING STYLE
Look at the length of articles, paragraphs and words. Look at the style of writing and the language used.

Analyse the written content and what it tells you about the audience. Identify uses of slang and styles of writing (informal, formal, detailed, brief, etc). Note the reading level (reading age). How does all of this target the magazines audience?

OVERALL LOOK
The overall impression given by the magazines appearance.

A range of different elements come together to make up the look of the design. Explain the overall look of the magazine and give reasons why the magazine has been made this way.

TEXT/PICTURE RATIO
How much of the pages are dedicated to writing and how much to pictures.

Look closely at ratio of text to pictures. Ratio will change for different target audiences. Explain the ratio and reasons for this choice.

FONTS
Style and range of fonts chosen.

Fonts can tell the potential audience lots about the magazines on shelfs. Analyse reasons for their use.

PUBLISHER
The people who publish the magazine you are researching.

Find out who publishes, and what else they publish. Target demographic or do they target a range of audiences?

Introduction To Preliminary Task

During the first part of AS Media, the preliminary task is to create the front cover and contents page(s) of a student magazine. In order to do this, analyzing, research and planning will need to be completed. 

ACTION PLAN

WEEK ONE:
Introduction to brief. 
Research and planning: Analysis of magazines and how they target audiences.
Research of target audience.
Planning for production.

WEEK TWO:
Production
Photo shoot
Design Front Cover
Design Contents Page

WEEK THREE:
Production
Design Contents Page
Evaluation

WEEK FOUR:
Evaluation