Research: Grid

How this has influenced my creativity:

• The use of arrangement of the front cover as it will be organised.
• Serif and san serif font as it will make it look as if it a bands magazine.

Evaluation of Preliminary Task

My front cover was chosen as it's unique as it's not too colourful but either too dull. I used that as it will draw in a wider range of audience, instead of it being single gender based. The image was chosen as it's not too serious as the model is looking straight at th camera with a medium shot. The masthead is in my opinion good but if I was to change it, it would be 'Sixth Form Inform' ( which it now is) from the draft being a plain 'news' which is boring and the new mast head is easier to remember. The cover stories used are simple as they are just everyday average magazine from tips to help stories. The colour scheme used is good but can be improved as te colours don't compliment each other.

Evaluation of Key Skills

So far from the three weeks I have been doing Media Studies I have learned a lot. I have learned a range of new skills from using a Mac, which I'm still new to, using a camera, photography, and Adobe Elements 11. On the Mac the most helpful skills besides turning it on, is learning to screen grab. Screen grab has been helpful as I can take a section of an image I like and only get that bit. I have also learned photography which ties into the use of a camera for example using medium shots and long shots. Lastly, I have learned how to use Adobe Elements 11 and that was used to create my front cover draft.

Finished Contents

Finished Magazine Cover

Selection of images

I chose this as my final front cover as my model looked straight at the camera. In addition the photo was in portrait not landscape.















               

I like this image as I like the way the model is postured. The only downside of this is that the photo isn't quite medium shot and the image isn't portrait.

Rejection of images

This picture is one i have rejected. I have rejected it as it is of out focus and the model was moving so his face is out of the shot. In addition i don't like this image as it is not a medium close up shot.

This is another rejected picture as it is not a medium close up. I would have liked to use this photo.

This is another image i am rejecting as the model is in the dark and also the photo was taken in landscape not portrait. 

Genres

My favorite genre of books and films are psychological thrillers as they keep you guessing the whole way through.  Psychological thrillers are my preferred genre as the story will often involve a major plot twist, which can change everything. Many genres follow codes when they are produced as for example: Western stories will most likely involve a tumbleweed in a scene or multiple. The codes in Psychological thrillers are mainly plot twists and turns, that can change the whole story.

Front Cover analysis (mine) 7

Front Cover Plan

For the plan of my front cover I will be using a range of photos with different angles.  I will use a variety of angles such as over the shoulder right frame and medium long shot. I have my chosen model who shall be Charlie Bradley. I will not be needing props as i'm going to have a serious cover.

Here are some examples of some of the angles i'll be using.

Medium long shot:  

Over the shoulder:

Research: Front cover power point 6

Power point for blog from harryford8991

How this has influenced my creativity:

• The colour scheme that matches and suits the genre.
• The image where the model looks formal.
• The use of kickers and other features.

Research: Front cover analysis 5

The masthead fits into the colour scheme and also has the strap-line which will indicate that the target audience is for the older viewership.

The image has direct address. This is when the model looks directly at the camera. The image is taken in a medium shot.
The image doesn't have much on the front cover and this could be as a tribute to the model.
The image relates to the headline as its about Ray Price and the model is Ray Price.
The back ground is not in focus and the image is based on the model.
The model is wearing a costume to appeal to the target audience.


How this has influenced my creativity:

• The image with a background blurred as it will focus on the model.
• The image of the model over the title.
• Not much text on the front page.

Research: Front cover analysis 4

The masthead is the recognisable house style with the serif font but only on the 'U'. Other than that the rest of the masthead is in sans serif. 
The other details in this front cover are:

• Barcode, bottom right.
• Body of texts, bottom right.
• Caption, middle left.
• Central image, middle.
• Codes, the model is wearing smart, formal clothes.  The model seems formal.
• The serif font makes the front cover reflect musical notes. 
• Dateline, bottom right.
• Headline, middle 
• Pugs
• Freebie
• puff 'Reviews'
• Colour - grey, black and gold - this looks rich and implies quality. 
• Four features are in a box on the right hand side. 
• Lines are used.

How this has influenced me:

• I would like to use pugs. This would be to make the reader turn the page.
• I would like to give a free digital download. This could draw in a wider audience as the reader could like the music chosen. Also people would buy it as it is a free download in the magazine.
• I would like to use sans serif and serif font in my title as it would bring a variation by the serif font being recognised with the classical genre.

Research: Front cover analysis 3

Q Magazine has a dominant recognisable house style. It always uses red for the masthead in the

top left corner.

There is a slight overlap of the image. Which gives off a 3D effect.

The lure is what brings the audience in. The capitalised headline / main cover line 'UNMASKED' makes the audience want to find out about the topic. Also the story is a kicker as it stands out from the rest of the cover. In addition, the text and story is in white and this matches the house style with the white Q.

There are multiple banners. This stands out from the colour scheme and gives of the torn look to it. This also makes it a pug.
The issue has connections as the main cover line says 'summer' and the image has the models holding a ice cream which is the iconography. The blue sky and the ice creams are visual symbolic signs of summer (Barthes) 

This front cover is unconventional as you can't see the models face in the image. The image would give a direct address if the models were not wearing masks but we can see that the models are facing the camera which could be used as a lure.
The image would appeal to a male audience more than a female audience as the colour blue is used in the background. The image was taken in a studio as you can see that there is light spots on their shoulders and masks. Additionally we can see the reflection of a landscape in one of the models visors. According to Dyer 'A star is an image, not a real person.' and this is shown by the models  with futuristic costumes.

The fonts used are of a different style and size.The fonts range from a bold and blocky font on the main story of Daft Punk. All the fonts and style of writing is all sans serif. which is easier to use and to read when the font is in sans serif. There is a slanted banner in the middle of the main title. Some of the fonts match the main colour scheme of being white and red style.

How this has influenced my creativity:

• The use of the image to set the scene with the season of weather also the wording used.
• The image that is overlapping the Q logo.
• The range of fonts and style used as it will bring a variation to magazine.

Research: Front cover analysis 2

This is an analysis of a Q magazine of Lily Allen. This is unconventional as the model is shown breaking out of the front cover of the magazine also in the image is used over the title which will give a 3D effect about the model breaking out.
There is a pug at the top right hand side of the page which is an image of the band Oasis and will make the reader want to turn and buy the magazine the page to see the story.
The kicker used is given a different colour as it is different from the rest of the front cover as its not about music.

How this has influenced my creativity:

• A kicker to add a variation to the issue.
• A image that overlaps the title of the main story to give the effect of the model breaking out.
• A colour scheme that is used throughout the magazine. 

Q Magazine front cover 1

I have studied this cover of the Q Magazine with Cheryl Cole on it. The picture has symbolic signs as Cheryl has red lipstick on and the colour red is made more visible. In addition the mast logo for Q is bold and red. This is a symbolic sign as the colour red is a polysemous. Red signifies a stop sign and will draw the readers eye. This may be to indicate that she can be dangerous as red is seen as a warning but also can mean love and passion. In addition, she is licking a ring which signifies again that she is dangerous as the ring has a point which could be used as a weapon. This is an symbolic sign. She is shown standing in the rain and rain can indicate sorrow and loneliness.
  In conclusion, this cover of Q Magazine has many symbolic signs from the colour red which could either mean love or danger, possibly both. Also that she is standing in the rain which could mean she is lonely. All of these link together as the loneliness can indicate the danger or love from the red lipstick and give it a indexical sign.
The masthead is the bold white Q in a red box which links to the colour scheme of red for the 'Rocks' and the many uses of the colour red.
This image is conventional as the model is looking straight at the camera.
Mulvey can be used here as the model is made to look for the 'Male Gaze'.

The Brief

Preliminary exercise: DTP and an image manipulation program, produce the front page of a new school/collage magazine, featuring a photograph of a student in medium close-up plus some appropriately laid-out text and a masthead. Additionally candidates must produce a DTP mock-up of the layout of the contents page to demonstrate their grasp of the program. Main task: the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine.
All images and text used must be original, produced by the candidate(s), minimum of FOUR images per candidate.