Final Magazine: Cover, Contents & Double-Page Spread.

Evaluation Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Evaluation Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I used iPhoto(left) to upload the pictures so it was easier for me to control/move my photos which I took on the SLR Camera (below) which I was able to take better sharper photos on because I could change the focus and alter the settings for different lighting. I then used Photoshop(right) to edit any photos that needed it for example if I needed to edit the brightness or if I needed to make it black and white like I have done for some photos within my magazine.

 

 I used Blogger(left) to upload all my posts which relate to my media portfolio, evaluation posts, progress posts, research and planning etc, and it was easier for me and also everyone viewing my work to see where I started and how far I have come along and then also keep all my work in one place. I also used flickr(above) to post images of my completed magazine and edit captions underneath to explain different things. I then used iShowU to perform voiceovers to show all my work I have done and to also compare and contrast previous work to my final piece.

Evaluation Question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?

 How did you attract/address your audience?

Prezi Presentation.

Evaluation Question 5 on Prezi

Evaluation Question 4: Who would be the audience for your media product? Why?

Who would be the audience for your media product?

Why?

My target audience member, the main reason obviously that she would be interested in my magazine would be because the music that I feature mainly is to her taste, the indie alternative style. She would also like my magazine because it is a magazine which likes to focus on the female indie artists and of course she is female so she may be interested in looking at the artists because it's not often they do get featured. Also the radio stations she likes to listen too play that sort of music so again she would probably be interested in the magazine and also other magazines she likes to read are similar to what mine is like. And she likes old stuff too, clothes and music so my magazine can offer many different styles to her and she likes going to gigs and festivals which are always big features in the magazine.

Evaluation Question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?

Link to flickr account.
 



 










 

Evaluation Question 2: How does you media product represent particular social groups?

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Florence and the Machine NME Cover (left) compared to my model (right) 

Posture/Gesture- Both are strong women but my model shows more a vulnerable side with her hand up against her face but both are slightly tipping their head to one side which shows confidence and also a slightly inquisitive nature. Both models just keep their shoulders very relaxed so there's no tension within the shot.

Angle/shot type/lighting- I have used a close-up shot of my model just like the Florence shot because I like that it fills the space and also creates the effect that nothing is hidden, it's just that artist, no gimmicks. I have taken it at eye-level straight on just as the Florence has because I wanted to create a relatable feel for the artist and if it was taken at a angle then I couldn't have created that. I made the framing on the photo very tight just like the other photo because I liked the way it filled the space. I have used a duller light in my photo than the Florence shot because I changed the effect to black and white for my double-page spread.

Costume/Hair/Make-up- These two photos are quite similar style-wise because obviously I want to keep to that style for my audience. Hair- Both have quite a alternative strong fringe and shorter hair style and I think it creates quite a bold image, obviously Florence is a lot more bright due to her hair being red but I think my model still fits with the alternative female messy style with her hair. Make-up- The make-up is more or less the same with both models with the eye make-up and the pale complexion and blush sweeping the cheeks. The only thing I changed was that I gave my model a stronger lip because Florence had the stronger hair colour so I gave my model the darker lip to make her stand out more and I also think it reflects that indie/alternative style and being a bit different with experimenting make-up. Costume- Both have high neck tops on which could show that they want to stay conservative and it again fits with the alternative style that can be that masculine/feminine style so the button up shirt and the high neck makes it seem quite masculine but then I have added a lace bow tie on mine and then Florence added necklaces to her look, so both added a feminine touch.

Expression- Both images have a nonchalant feel to them, but Florence is a more aggressive expression whereas my model has a softer expression with a smirk and I think both match the body language in the shot. Both expressions fit with the alternative style because of all the other elements like costume and make-up etc. One thing that is similar is that both have quite wide eyes which could mean they are aware and interested in the indie scene.

Evaluation Question 1: In what ways does your magazine use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Front Cover. 

Use (Red)

My masthead is directly influenced by the Q masthead, instead of it being the name of the magazine in a banner format, it's in a square with one large letter. Obviously the name of my magazine is longer than Q so I suppose I also developed the idea so I had one large letter and then the name is up the side. Another thing I have taken from this, is the medium close-up on the front and both have a similar nonchalant expression. I have used similar fonts to Q, I use a block font I downloaded from dafont.com for all my stories and then for my masthead I used a classic Sans Serif font, Times New Roman for my masthead and small bits of font. I have also used similar colours, black, white and red but I made my red a little deeper so it was more of a indie vibe. 

Develop (Blue) 

I have used the same idea of the stories being around the face in columns on the cover but I have just made them on one side of my artist and instead of fitting them around the artists face I have kept them  structured so they overlap the photo. Another thing I used but developed was the idea of making the artists story the main feature by enlarging the text and placing it over the photo. I used the large artist name and the block font for the name and then I have used a phrase or quote underneath the name 'BEADY EYE KICK OFF' compared to '"MUSIC IS LIFE"' but then I also added a small heading above it to make it seem more exclusive 'First Real Interview' and then I added a small banner along the bottom to add some more information which I have seen on Q covers before just not this one.

Challenge (Green)

The main thing I have challenged on my cover is that I used a female artist because in my audience research they said that they wanted to see more female artists and when looking at Q covers, it was just predominantly males on the covers and I didn't really like any of the female covers. I also challenged small things like moving the barcode but they are small things that would change for most issues to fit the cover anyway.

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Contents Page. 
Use (Red)
I have used an extremely similar layout on this one by splitting them up into a 'Features' section and then a 'Review' section, also my 'Regular' section is the same as their 'Every Month' section I just changed the name to fit. I have used the same layout so I have one column on the left side and then a large photo and a smaller photo on the page and my 'ARTIST SPECIAL' is placed in a box and highlighted just like the 'OASIS SPECIAL' is on their page. I have also used the idea, that I have placed a small box on the photo to link it into the page and also prioritize that story.

Develop (Blue)
I have developed quite a few ideas on this page, I have used the banner at the top but I have changed it to fit the housestyle of my magazine with the lines and classic sans serif font so I still used a banner at the top but just fitted to it to my style. I also used the idea of small banners for my headings but instead of placing them inside a banner like Q does, I again fitted it to my theme, by just using a line underneath the heading in the red colour that I use which is similar to the red that Q use. I have also used a photo in my review section and like Q have done by including the reviewer, I have but I also included the artist in it.

Challenge (Green) 
Again the only thing I have challenged on this page is the fact I have used a female solo artist compared to the male band they used in Q because in my audience research I found that my audience would be more interested in female artists and also I decided that it would be better to feature solo artists as so many indie bands are always on the cover.  

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Double Page Spread. 

Use (Red)

I have used a similar layout in the pages, by having a full page photo and then a three column layout for my interview and they also used the same question and answer format for the interview, I used the same idea of making the question bold and then the answer in normal font so the audience can differentiate between the two. Also I have used the standard three column layout for the structure of the interview.I have also used a female artist like the other magazine did.

Develop (Blue)
Ideas that I have developed in this double-page-spread by using a banner at the top of the page but instead of using a banner that stretches across the top of the page like the magazine has, I just placed the title of the page in the corner and placed my signature line underneath so it fits with the house style. I also used the idea of having the artist's name and a small introductory paragraph above the interview but I changed it so that it was lower on the page and the name and font was bigger than on the original magazine. I also included a 'words and pictures by' line which is similar to the one used on the other magazine.

Challenge (Green)
I have challenged quite a few things on this page for example the photo, I have used a completely different shot type and gone for a close up instead and I then made it black and white and made the image a lot softer and the reason I did this was because I had seen an image like this in another magazine but I could not find that interview in a picture and I also think that this black and white softer image works better with the page and style of the interview. I then added a few extra bits onto the page like a quote on top of the picture which I used just to break up the picture and I also included a small album picture and info on where to buy it because I had seen that sort of thing before and thought it looked quite effective and used space well.

Tweaked Final Front Cover.

This is my altered front cover, I have re-aligned my stories so they are all equal on one side and then made the fonts slightly bigger so they fill more space. I have also neatened some edges on my font.

Final Front Cover.

Final Contents Page.

Final Double Page Spread.

Research and Planning: Music Magazine Progress

This lesson I have worked on my front cover because I feel as though it wasn't working so I have had a shuffle with my front cover. And tested out new ideas on a seperate page.

Research and Planning: Music Magazine Progress

Today's lessons and during dinner sessions, I have almost completed my contents, I just need to add the page numbers and add a few finishing touches to my front cover.

Reseracha and Planning: Bad Photos for Front Cover, Contents and Double-Page Spread.

These are some of the bad shots that I've taken when either the lighting, focus or location hasn't worked in the shot.

Research and Planning: Best Photos for Front Cover, Contents and Double-Page Spread.

These are a selection of the good shots that I took, that I considered using for my front cover, contents page and then my double-page spread. I think that the lighting and focus are pretty good in all the shots and the locations look good with the mise-en-scene.

Research and Planning: Production Progress

In this lesson I have uploaded my photos and also added to my front cover and contents page.

Research and Planning: Sans/Sans Serif Fonts

I will be using a serif font for the bulk of my text on my double page spread so it has more readability for a smaller font.