Final Evaluation Question 6

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Cameras:
To take my images I used a standard SLR camera, which was a ‘Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28’. Although this wasn’t extensively extensive and a specialised camera, it is my own so I am comfortable with all of the settings and certain techniques used to create high standard pictures. I used this camera to take pictures of the models on the front cover, contents page and the double age spread. However if I were to change things next time I would use a more credible and reliable camera that produces high quality, and magazine potential images. I changed the cameras aperture in order to make the depth of field a lot smaller. This way the main attention was focused on the face, rather than the background. I learnt that by increasing the shutter speed the picture became a lot sharper.   











Computers:I mainly used the school computers as they are installed with all of the editing software needed to create a successful magazine. The computers were reliable and were equipped with all of the platforms of media I needed. With the speediness of the computers my time was spared efficiently and rarely needed to do extra work at home. Although I have a PC at home with Photoshop installed, I found that my laptop was working overtime and after a while became slow and unreliable with saving important documents and files.

Lighting:I used two soft light boxes to make the quality of my photos better, but to also eliminate any traces of shadows that can occur when using flash photography, etc. This allowed me to follow Terry Richardson’s steps in creating bright images which makes the complexions on the models faces flawless and airbrushed.   

Flickr:
I used flickr to download most of my camera roll and present them in a professional way. This way I could see all of the test shots and final shots and compare them in quality and potential. My peers could see this on my blog and I got feedback from teachers as to how I can improve them in the final shots.











Animoto:I used animoto at the start of my research and planning. I created a 25 word pitch which included some of the ideas and themes that I would like to occur within the magazine. Animoto allowed me to present it in a professional and quirky way, portraying the personality and features of the magazines future content and graphology.








Blogger:Blogger was probably one of the most used technology during the process of the making of my magazine. I updated the blog whenever I had inspiration and ideas. I also included presentations, images and pictures that I had taken along with some feedback from fellow peers and teachers. By keeping a track of my process I could refer back to any stages in the research to finalise any more inspiration from the research and planning stages. It helped having the dates of posts as I could then plan the timings and ensure that I meet the deadline without hesitation.













Microsoft Word:I used this word processing software to spell check all of my work and to write up my double page spread to see the word count so I could plan the positioning of the double page spread.

 











Internet Explorer:The internet was essential to me within the research and planning stages as wanted to research other magazines in order to inspire me to take in all of the conventions of the magazines and portray them within my magazine. I also looked at certain artists and bands websites so I could look at how that particular person has been represented towards the genre of their music. Some of the websites that I went on were; http://lookbook.nu/ . This website gave me many ideas and inspirations on ways I could have dressed the models featured in the magazine. Some of the poses featured on ‘lookbook’, gave me an insight on how I could improve the way my artists were presented, leaving a quirky and edgy vibe towards the magazine. Other websites were; www.loudandquiet.com and www.i-donline.com. I used the internet to download my font ‘Blackout Midnight’ on www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/Blackout.  

PaintI used paint many times to transfer certain images and to edit them which was a quick and efficient process. Although these steps could have been done on Photoshop, I felt that I was more specialised on a simple design pack such as paint. I edited the ‘DIVISION’ logo and title on here. The tools were simple and easy to follow; it was an extremely reliable form of media.

Adobe Photoshop CS6 ExtendedPhotoshop was the editing software I used throughout the making of my preliminary magazine and my final magazine. I used this on the school computers as they ran really quickly and efficiently allowing me to get my work done quicker. On Photoshop I learnt how to cut around objects or people (models) in an accurate way by using the magnetic lasso tool, it left a really neat edge around the object/person. I also edited some of the photographs on here, such as airbrushing the models slightly (I didn’t need to do much airbrushing as the lighting helped eliminate any redness or blemishes that the model had).

Final Evaluation Question 7

Final Evaluation Question 5

Question 5

Final Evaluation Question 4

Final Evaluation Question 3

Final Evaluation Question 2

Final Evaluation Question 1

6.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Cameras:
In order to achieve high quality pictures I used a standard SLR camera; which is a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28. Although this wasn’t a really expensive SLR camera to use, it was easy to use as it was my own camera, therefore I knew how all of the settings worked.

Computers:
I mainly used the school computers as they are installed with all of the editing software needed to create a successful magazine. They run much faster on my laptop at home, however I do have Photoshop at home, which allowed me to work more at home than at school.

Lighting:
I used two light boxes to make the quality of my photos better, but to also eliminate any traces of shadows that can occur when using flash photography, etc.

Flickr:
I used flickr to download most of my camera roll and present them in a professional way. This way I could see all of the test shots and final shots and compare them in quality and potential.

Animoto:
I used animoto at the start of my research and planning. I created a 25 word pitch which included some of the ideas and themes that I would like to occur within the magazine.

Blogger:
Blogger was probably one of the most used technology during the process of the making of my magazine. This was because I updated the blog whenever I had inspiration and ideas. I also included presentations, images and pictures that I had taken along with some feedback from fellow peers and teachers.

Microsoft Word:
I used this word processing software to spell check all of my work and to write up my double page spread to see the word count so I could plan the positioning of the double page spread.

5.

How did you attract/address your audience?
In order to attract my audience I had to consider the age range for my magazine. The age range is 16-27 year olds. My magazine has potential to be a non-gender specific magazine. However with a girl on the front cover the magazine only attracts the female gender. The main part of the magazine cover is the bold masthead. It is the first thing that is seen as it is at the very top of the magazine which sells the magazine, but also is seen clearly on shelves. By having the font reasonably large, black and bold, against the neutral background it is very prominent. In some other ways the model can also attract my audience, as I dressed my model in a similar style to the audience’s style and the genre of the magazine. I made sure that the model was facing directly into the camera, as if they were enticing the readers to buy the magazine. By having my artists name on the front cover it allows the audience to indentify her and they will know that this issue will feature some sort of interview starring ‘Rosa Leigh’. In the double page spread I thought it was important to include some pull quotes that were rather gossip-like, making the interview seem very personal to the reader.

4.

Who would be the audience for your media product?
The audience for my magazine will be people aged 16-27. Although it isn’t a wide audience range, most of the readers and audience are aged between 18-20. The audience will also be people who are attracted to the indie nature and genre that the magazine provides. The readers could be interested in these particular artists and bands; The XX, The Maccabees. These feature on the front cover and my contents page. There are some sections where fashion is involved, which could appeal to some of the female viewers. However if it were to be a unisex magazine, I will need it to appeal to males as well as females. Here I would include long shots of models wearing ‘indie’ classed clothing, which can reflect back on the genre of my magazine. People are attracted to this magazine as it is simplistic, modern, intuitive and professional looking. The model on the cover could definitely sell and entice the readers, as the readers want to be constantly updated with the music industry and not miss out on any new potential artists or bands.

3.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Within my research and planning I originally thought that ‘Bauer’ media institution would be the best institution for my magazine. However, after taking some vigorous research into my magazine I feel that ‘IPC Media’ is now the best opportunity for my magazine. The reason why I have decided to go ahead with IPC Media is that it has many different popular names of magazines underneath their name. It would make my magazine ‘look good’ publicity wise. With such a vast amount of audience types that IPC attracts, such as NME. Some of the more gossip and chatty magazines such as ‘Pick me up’ are associated with this media institution, which could be a slight negative point and a downfall in some readers. There will be many platforms in which my magazine could be sold from. There will be a website for my magazine with the option to subscribe to the magazine, with a special subscribers edition of the magazine, which will not feature any taglines on the front cover. I will also have the magazine accessible via apps.

2.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

As I have said previously, the way my artist dresses will attract a particular social group. My artist is represented in a unique way, which is rather simple and shouts minimalism. The delicateness of her facial features could attract both males and females to read the article about her. She looks very normal looking and so can attract females, as they are of a similar age to her, and could almost relate to the artist, which could entice them to read and/or buy the magazine. Styles and trends are consistently changing, so by having the professional clean and edgy appeal to the magazine it is attracting those who are passionate about indie and alternative music, with a creative streak to them. Although the colour palette may not necessarily be eye catching, the intuitive approach to the magazine will gather a wide audience.  The way I took the image is in the similar style of Loud & Quiet magazine.

The graphology is very similar to this example of magazine, with a very similar colour palette. However the images on loud and quiet are very quirky. This image here definitely has an ‘indie’ feel to it. Although this is last year’s edition, the style of the model is classy and seems as though it will never date as of yet.

Another pointer is the typography and the discourse structure. The way the lettering and graphology is positioned, it is all aligned with one another. This makes the cover more aesthetically pleasing, again, enticing the readers to buy or read the magazine.

1.

 In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of music magazines)

Magazine Title
The masthead of my magazine is called ‘DIVISION’. The font that I used was ‘Blackout Midnight’ which I found on www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/Blackout.  I decided to use this font as it is very similar to the magazine currently on the market, such as ‘INDIE’, and ‘Loud & Quiet’. Both magazines have bold typography with a prominent masthead. However by having some of the letters coloured in black, it makes the magazine more memorable to the public eye. I thought black would be a safe option and works well on all types of backgrounds that may occur within the magazines future. I chose ‘DIVISION’ to be the title of my magazine as it could relate to the division in the music industry between each genre. 

Graphology and Page Layout
I wanted the page layout to reflect a minimalistic, modern, fresh and clean approach, alongside the graphology. By keeping a neutral colour palette with no bright, contrasted hues, the magazine looks professional and links in with some of the magazines that I was inspired by, such as ‘Dazed and Confused’, and ‘Loud & Quiet’. Loud & Quiet really influenced my front cover page, by having the border around the image and taglines. The main attention of the magazine cover, is the image, (Rosa Leigh’s hair brings in another colour to the palette) and the masthead. By having each tagline and layer that is made on Photoshop, I made sure each layer aligns up with one another so that it looks correct towards the eye.

Costumes, Props and iconography – To reflect genre
To go alongside the graphology and page layout, I wanted to make sure my models were wearing suitable clothing to reflect my genre; ‘Indie’. I had to dress them in ‘current’ clothing. I used white collars, gold chains, and grey marled sweaters. Although this could have a R&B feel, I felt that these types of clothing related well to the genre, and can imagine my readers to wear these clothes to. The poses I directed to my models were very simplistic. However one pose is quite iconic in the sense that the eyes are not looking directly at the camera. I felt that it needed some more depth and for each picture to look unique.   

Camera Work and Framing
All of the shots that I took were mid-shot. Next time I would probably have done more ‘daring’ shots that look more intriguing for the audience and not so plain. I want the readers to be in awe of the models and want to look like them. As this is a lower end magazine (high-street) I feel that some of the clothes worn shouldn’t be designer, but instead affordable but still chic. Framing wise, I used a small black frame around each image, to make the photos look like they are a Polaroid style, and to make the images look neater on the page and well presented.

Fonts
Apart from the masthead I used a font in capital letters called ‘Orator Std’. I chose this font as it reflected a typewriter style of font. I love the old school feel it brings to the magazine, especially on the double page spread. I used this font on the tag lines; my artists name ‘Rosa Leigh’ and font on the double page spread. The font choice was also inspired my Loud & Quiet magazine, however if I were to choose it again, I would want the font to replicate exactly, the type writers font.

How the written content represents my genre
In my first draft I asked questions, but from my feedback the results were not too great. I struggled to word the questions correctly and they seemed rather impractical and irrelevant questions to ask. Therefore in my final design I decided to create an article, with some quotations from the artist. I didn’t want the language to be too formal; as I was afraid I would lose some of the audience’s interest. I used some taboo terms, but mainly informal and some slang language. This spices up the spread and makes it more appealing and interesting to read.

How my artists are represented
On the front cover there is a close up of my artist, with a pull quote saying ‘Quintessential English Rose’. I made my artist look as English as possible. My model already had red/ginger hair, but I wanted to make the red more prominent. I changed the tones of the hair to a slightly more red tone. I changed the contrast of the image to make her skin more pale, which then elaborates all of the attention onto her hair. Although the artist doesn’t necessarily wear ‘indie’ clothing, her genre of music is well known. However I dressed her in a emerald green peplum top to bring some more colour into the equation. This could be a slight issue as the audience may look at her and feel she doesn’t dress in a certain ‘indie’ style, the audience may not be interested in reading about them. In the double page spread I wanted to represent my artist as a down to earth normal human, instead of on artist in which fame has gotten to their heads.  I used witty quotes that will make the audience laugh, but to also grow to love the artist.

Analysis Of Institution-Bauer Media Group

Bauer Media Group is a multinational media company, held in Germany, which operates in 15 countries worldwide. The company was founded in 1875, and since then has been privately owned by the Bauer family. The group is extremely successful and titles amounts of 38 million magazines a week, such as; Q Magazine and Kerrang.  The group has been managed by four generations, starting off as a small printing house, the publishing group has grown into a well known worldwide business, with not only magazines, but with TV and Radio Stations, it is now known as Britain’s 3^rd largest publisher. As this institution is so well known in the music magazine business, I feel that this is appropriate for my magazine, as it will have good publicity. They would publish my magazine, as it has a wide target audience of teenagers to early/late twenties.  The overall look will be indie/alternative the genre is well known in the music and fashion industry for magazines, therefore Bauer company, will be part of a successful and appropriate magazine. 

Hexagon Magazine- Lay plan

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Here is the laypan for my preliminary lay plan of hexagon magazine. I chose the name 'Hexagon', as it goes with the idea of schools and education, in this case it is inspired by mathematics. I wanted to incorporate the hexagon shape, therefore I replaced any 'O' lettering with a hexagon.

The current layplan may change when I make my final magazine on photoshop, but I wish to follow this plan as I feel it is an appropriate design for a school magazine.