Contents Page Construction

 

 Step 1:

Instead of using an image for the background of this product, i felt i would stick to typical conventions of music magazines and paste photos onto a decorative background, providing a layered look. I used the shape tool and created different coloured rounded edged rectangles to be the base of my design. I decided to keep some parts of a white grey to keep things simplistic yet have bursts of colour within the centre of the design. I have continued with the use of the font "Jimthorpe" for the title of the page which clearly states that this will show the contents of the magazine. 

Step 2: 

Secondly i decided to make an editors note and image to accompany this along the top section of the page. This allows the reader to see the thought and time that's been put into creating the magazine, and that the editor is someone who could be similar to them in their personality and dress sense. By adding frames to the image in random directions, this added a more interesting look and links to how mismatched and edgy the style of music that the magazine is representing is. These frames were also all embossed in order to make them "pop" out from the page more. I also decided to add an image of the front cover as this is a typical music magazine convention. It also allows continuity and links both parts of the magazine together.

Step 3:

Next i added the images to the page. This included previously analysed secondary images of an indie band and a stage shot of a live performance. I placed these along the left hand side on angles to allow sufficient room for text alongside. As well as this i edited an image (shown below contents screenshot) by using the magnetic lasso tool to "cut" my model from the image. I had to use the eraser tool to remove the sections between the gaps in her arm also. I then "placed" this onto my contents page and dragged it and re-sized it into the bottom right hand corner before embossing and adding a shadow to make her stand out greatly from the rest of the page.

Step 4:

After adding all the images, text needed to be added to describe all of the articles present within the magazine. I continued with the use of "payday" font to describe the articles and as well as adding taglines to each title for a little bit of extra information for the readers. The white fonts are easy to read above the coloured translucent shapes behind them and stick to my intended colour scheme. After adding the storyline, i placed arrows from those which had an image that linked with towards the photo it represented. This way the audience can instantly see the bands/situations that the articles will show. Finally i added the magazine's website along the bottom of the page as well as the date to self advertise and gain more viewers onto the domain. 

Step 5: Final Stage

In the last stage i wanted to follow my initial sketch and add a banner to show savings for the reader. I did this simply by placing a rectangle outline box using the shape tool in the last free space on the page. I then filled this with text using the text tool. By using red this continued with the colour scheme and linked with a technique used within the retail industry in placing savings in the colour red. This is to make the audience think of christmas and the discounts and sales available at this time. Although this isn't used within the music industry, i felt this could be a clever way to influence my readers that saving money would be good for them. Of course, they can make their own minds up and this is an optional extra (linking to the use and gratifications theory).

Front page construction

 Stage 1:
Firstly, i've opened the original picture as this will be the perfect background image for my cover. The model is looking directly at the camera lens and allows an interaction between the model and the reader. There is also sufficient space above the models head and across the hairline to place a headline which is the most typical convention of a music magazine front page.

Stage 2:
I then decided to warm the lighting of the image by using the photo filter from a list of adjustment layers and used the warming filter. As well as this i wanted to darken the shadows, hair and black crop top of the model to made the image stand out more and contrast against her pale skin. I used the shadow tool for this, as well as the highlighter for small sections such as the models forearm and parts of the rocky concrete in the background.
After the photo lighting editing, i placed a text box of my chosen title across the top banner of the page. I decided to do this in order to stick to typical conventions that the audience would be comfortable with and that it would be easily seen when flicking through shelves in a store it would be purchased at. I used the font Jimthorpe, placing the first syllable of the word in block colour whilst the second in outline to create a more interesting looking headline.

Stage 3: 
I next placed the translucent shapes that would be the backgrounds for each piece of text i would include on the page. These allow the text to stand out more from the imagery, but the translucent style of the shapes allows the background image to still be fully visible and not cut off any sections which would ruin the continuity. I kept with my intended colour theme of red, blue and white as these bursts of colour look attractive for the readers. To make the boxes stand out even more i used the emboss tool to raise their levels and look more 3d, as well as adding shadows to exaggerate this even more. I also added a barcode and price onto the page as this is a typical convention of magazine covers and will allow readers to see how much the product is (£2.50) in a subtle manner.

Stage 4:
After making the background bases for the text i added all of the text boxes on the page. I again used the emboss tool to make some of them stand out more than others. These are in contrasting blues/reds and white fonts in order to stand out at different sections and cause variety. I again used the font "jimthorpe" as well as "monotype corsiva" and "pristina". By using these 3 it kept the design simplistic but still with variation and i feel as though the different fonts compliment one another. All of the texts advertise the different articles within the magazine or express about free gifts and how popular the product is, this gives the audience an insight into what they have if they purchase it which will encourage them to do so.

 Stage 5: Final Stage
I finally added secondary images to my cover which include the cd cover art accompanying the "free cd for every reader" pug along with "reader's" own photos taken at live music gigs. The cd art compliments the main image due to them being of the same artist whilst the live photos add a more edgy feel and allow the readers who took the photos to feel as though they had a major part to do with the production of the magazine.


Overall the front cover looks effective with the variety of fonts, colours and images. The most successful element was the use of translucent boxing behind fonts and i will continue to use this within the other products due it's appealing outcome.

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Making the CD Art:

Within the front cover i used a CD Art image which i created in photoshop. This shows the reader the art of the free cd they will receive after purchasing my product. The free gift allows the reader to feel as though they are gaining more for their money and that the magazine would be an essential item to them (linking to maslow's hierachy of needs)

Stage 1:
Here i opened up an image i took from the "overgrown forest" photoshoot and i felt this would be appropriate for a cd cover shot due to the model looking straight into the camera lens making a connection with the reader, as well as the close up shot of the artists face being a typical convention of music cd covers.

Stage 2:
I secondly warmed the image using filters and darkened shadows and highlighted the skin (similar to the process used for the front cover image). This allowed a more powerful image to be created in which the model stands out from the background immensely.

Stage 3:
I then cropped the image using the crop tool in order to create the more stereotypical square box shape of a cd cover. After this i added two text boxes describing the artists name and the name of the album title in white font named "network vampires". This stands out well against the dark backgrounds and the simplicity of the design allows the audience to easily be able to understand it.

Stage 4: Last stage
Lastly i added a black translucent bar down the left side of the album to keep continuity and add an extra element to the piece. This links in with the colour scheme and does not overpower the image yet creates a subtle backpiece.

Playing with lighting

Before i begin to manipulate and edit my chosen photos when creating my final products i want to practice changing the lighting styles of some images and see how the effect they give to a reader can be completely transformed with slight editing of colour/tint/saturation/contrast/darkening and lighting areas.

Here i changed the image to black and white and increased the sharpness to create features such as the graffiti on the back wall and the rims of the glasses to be clearer and crisp. This effect has added a more vintage feel to the image and creates to focus to be mainly on the model rather than being overshadowed by the bright greens of the grass and bushes behind.

 

With this image i filled the photo with light entirely and then added even more highlights to create the metal bars to stand out and create the models skin to glow. This looks as though the model is dying to break out from something (which could link to being a rebel in the music industry). The brighter whites of the bars and skin contrast against the bright green grass and create a bolder statement to readers.

 

 Here i drained the saturation levels from the image and increased the darkness of shadows which has created a more edgy image that looks music inspired rather than just a photo taken in the forest. By draining the colours this time it has created the focus to be on the photo as a whole rather than immediately at the models clothes which could have been distracting. Also, the more neutral blues compliment the light greens of the forest.

With this i simply added a blue tint to the whole image and darkened shadows in the background and the models hair to create her facial features to stand out more. By adding the tint, the photo shows more fluidity, with colours from the background and foreground blending together smoothly. The models eyes also stand out more with the added darkness which allows a connection with the reader to be more predominant.

For this image i simply warmed the tones of the photo to create more flattering skin tones and a warmer background. I think this was especially effective after being so simple due to making the model stand out from the surroundings subtly due to the colour of her jumper contrasting more with the concrete after editing.

Analysing secondary photos

As well as the images i took on my "main photoshoots", i also took a variety of other shots which will be used as secondary images. These will add variety to my products, and provide imagery for other articles mentioned rather than all about the main storyline.

Here is an image i will use to accompany the article of the latest "indie duo" who have been taking snapshots in the magazine's own photobooth.
This photo allows the artists to shown enjoying themselves without being direction, letting the readers see the real them. The black and white style of the images adds a more "vintage" feel which often goes alongside the indie music scene, taking inspiration from the past.
The simplicity of the plain background also allows the entire focus to be on the members themselves and letting their personalities really shine through to the audience.

Here is a simple photo i will use to accompany the editors note. The blue shirt and red hair of the model fit the colour scheme perfectly and allow continuity. The shot is a simple medium close-up which is all that is needed for an editors photograph. The model looks fashionable and will therefore give readers a confidence in that they will enjoy what they are reading due to editor being up to date with fashions and fun-looking. When i use this image i will crop out the sides of the model which include various items behind her in order to make it look more professional.

The three following photos are taken live at concerts, and due to their lack of looking professional i will use these to accompany the article on how readers have reviewed gigs. This allows the edgy looking photos to belong to one of the readers who then would feel as though they are making a huge difference to the magazine.
The way in which live music is being shown links back to the masthead of the front cover (having a soundcheck before every live performance) and shows the music being stripped down to the basics. The variety of both raw talent being shown through live gigs and professional shoots allow all the different sides of the music industry to be portrayed through the magazine and gives the audience a real insight into what the editors and artists get to experience themselves.

Analysing photos

Here are all of the photos i took during the four different photoshoots. I took many photos of my main model due to wanting the widest variety of photos. This also allows me to analyse the best shots in order to find the best images possible for creating my final products and essentially, a successful magazine.

Through all of the images, despite different costume changes, i kept the hair and makeup both natural in order to show the singer stripped back to her normal self and allow readers to gain a real insight into the person behind the fame.

I will now analyse some of my photos in reference to location, presenting both good and bad points.

Location 1: Open Field

In the midst of an open field, this allows the artist to be shown within a natural environment, portraying that the singer has been stripped down to the basics and her true self is being shown to the reader rather than the typical showbiz portrayal usually given. This innocent setting also reflects the style of music the singer is merging into, leaving the edgy rock scene and heading for something more fun and free.

 This is a good image due to catching Anna mid-skip with a smile on her face, clearly showing she is enjoying what she is doing. The dark clothing contrasts well against the models pale skin, however this creates a more edgy atmosphere than the one i was aiming which was more electro inspired and fun. The background setting also unfortunately overpowers the model and takes the emphasis off her, this also disables the reader being able to see her expression clearly and feel as though they are getting "close" to the real her.

This is a powerful image due to the models stance being predominant in the foreground of the image whilst the scenery lays a calm backdrop behind. The way the model is running her fingers through her hair and exposing her upper body in an open pose produces confidence which can clearly be read by readers and inspire them to act the same. The strings hanging from the dress cause a problem, however this could be photoshopped out in the editing stage.

 

 This high angle shot is interesting to look at, and shows the vulnerable side of the model, swapping roles and allowing the audience to be "above" her whilst usually in the fame business the celebrity is "above" their fans in social and wealth status. By giving this role reversal this can allow the readers to see that the artist is only human just like them and inspire them to want to buy the magazine and read more into the tale she has to tell. This shot could be improved by placing the whole of the models body into the frame rather than cutting off at her knees.

Here i placed Anna behind a steel gate and took the photo at eye level. This would cleverly link to how the artist is "breaking free" from the music genre she is associated with due her looking as though she wishes to escape from behind the bars. The vertical bar however cuts through half of the image and again the strings from the model's dress are hanging down. It could also look better if the models feet were in view.

Here the whole model is in the frame of the image and her "laid-back" pose allows the readers to feel comfortable in her presence. The setting isn't the most attractive looking and the post on the left hand side would need to be cut out. I would also have preferred my model to be smiling in this image to show how she is happy with what she's doing and to show the readers a positive ambience.


Although some of these photos are effective, i don't feel any are strong enough to take place in my final products. The grassy atmosphere doesn't reflect the electro vibe i thought it could do and there are many pieces i would need to edit in photoshop to create them to be useable.
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Location 2: Under A Concrete Bridge

I felt as though this was the most appropriate location and therefore decided to take two sets of photos here with the model in different sets of clothing to provide two different styles of imagery. The concrete atmosphere allows a sophistication and provides a neutral backdrop, allowing the focus to be on the model. The use of concrete and graffiti also links to the underground scene of electro music, and the bright bold colours link to the style of the genre. 

(Grey striped jumper and jeans outfit)

This image has a more urban feel and the casual clothes the model is wearing allows the reader to feel comfortable with the image. However the model looks uncomfortable in her pose and the bags in the bottom right hand corner provide a problem. The light from the reflections in the water also create this to be the main focal point rather than the model which isn't what i wanted to achieve.

This image is effective due to the concrete block being parallel to the model and creating an interesting shape, almost framing the image. The laid back pose the model is pulling shows a carefree attitude, a typical convention of music artists. The lighting is quite dark in this and doesn't highlight the model to stand out from the environment she is in.

I really like this photo as the lighting is warm and the graffiti on the walls is an interesting feature. The model looks relaxed and as though she has something to say for herself (which will be shown throughout the article). The clothing she is wearing mixes well with the concrete setting and the small bursts of green in the background add a splash of colour. I would increase the lighting on the models face and darken shadows if i were to use this photo in order to make it stand out more.


I feel these photos may be appropriate for my contents page due to the relaxed clothing and vibe the photos give off. The images are not of such an impressive "wow" factor that they could hold the presence of a front page or double page spread, but they could be used in the midst of other images in the contents.
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(Gold glitter jacket and black bra top with jeans outfit)

I love this image, and it is the favourite of all the photos i took within the photoshoots. The model stands out immediately due to the clashing colours compared to the stoney background. The gold jacket reflects an electro style, along with the large "geek" glasses and oversized jewellery. The mise en scene is effective through the use of cobbled stones, portraying the more free and natural edgy underground atmosphere she is newly entering. I would darken the shadows within this photo to make the image "pop" even more.

This is another favourite of the images i took. The portrait style would be perfect for the front cover image, and the way in which again the gold jacket is present reflects indie electro, this time with purple nailvarnish showing to compliment this. The way in which the model places her arm across her middle shows she is still slightly defensive and worried about the new industry she is heading into, which allows the reader to subconsciously sympathise with her and want to know more about her story. The variety of concrete shapes behind her creates an interesting mise en scene and adds to the funky mis-match of her genre of music and fashion.

Here is a close up of the artists eyes which i thought could look effective due to this being a way to show the model interacting with reader. Anna is looking straight into the camera lense, behind a pair of glasses which could be seen as a "security blanket" for her, as if she is about to open up and share her true story despite not being entirely comfortable yet. The problem with this image is you can see myself in the lenses reflection taking the image which would be quite hard to edit out.


These are my favourite images and i will definitely use the first two within my final products. The gold jacket is a perfect reflection of the electro music style she plays for and the concrete background creates an interesting mise en scene. The natural lighting here worked perfectly, and with a few tweaks will create breath taking photos.

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Location 3: A secluded overgrown forest
  
 At this location it allowed the bright blue shirt the model was wearing to stand out from the bright greens of the forest. The atmosphere also represented the way the model was trying to break out from the stereotype she had been placed in. Similarly to the field, the environment of nature shows how the singer has been brought back to simplicity and is showing her true self.

This is an effective shot with the models face being directly centered and her pale skin creating the main focal point. The blue shirt contrasts well against the bright greens, and these bright colours reflect the electro style of music well. I would want to darken Anna's hair to allows this to contrast even more against her skin, and create her to stand out against the background.

This photo is effective and allows the whole of the model's body to be in shot, showing the reader every inch and the "real deal". The way in which she is situated at the front of a long path connotes how she has been on a long journey to get to where she is now and can show the audience how much of a struggle being in the music industry really is. The fashion of entirely blue and black stands out greatly against the green and browns of the forest, whilst her pale skin reflects alongside the small patches of sky visible. I would need to edit the bags in the background of the image and perhaps darken the hair to contrast against the skin even more so.

The four images here shown to the right are all similar in background and show the different personality traits of the model. They have caught different moments and in a mood of where the model is just having fun and messing around, rather than seriously posing for the images. This reflects her new style of music and her new character she is revealing. These could be used effectively in a trail together and i am thinking of putting a polaroid effect on them to give a vintage feel in which modern day teenagers are interested in due to being able to find out about the past. Again the blue shirt contrasts well against the green backgrounds. The sheer material of the shirt allows skin to be shown which could be seen as "sexy" and appeal to both the male audience who find this attractive and the female audience will aspire to dress similarly due to it's high fashion element.

















These images portray the singer in exactly the way i wanted, wearing bright colours and enjoying what she is doing. These could be both effective within the contents page and double page spread due to their fun nature. The styling of the blue shirt will contrast well against the gold used in the previous photoshoot and will also link into my colour scheme, highlighting the blue used within fonts and banners.