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

I believe that the biggest progression that I have made throughout the magazine coursework task was how my skills throughout the use of the editing software such as PhotoShop which I can now use more confidently and professionally. I also believe that I now have a clearer understanding of how magazines are created within the media industry and I now know the processes that it goes through such as the research and planning, analysis' and design work.  

My understanding of technology has improved dramatically throughout the use of the Photoshop software, by my knowledge and understanding of how too use the programme has allowed me to create my final product. Looking back at my prelim and other small tasks created with Photoshop, I can see that hey were all made of a much lower standard and created much more simply due to my lack of knowledge on the software. But looking at my final piece, I can definitely see that it is made of a much higher standard. The tools that I have used throughout the making processes of my product outcome has allowed me to not only understand the basic tools such as cropping, re-sizing and changing the layers on Photoshop; but has allowed me to understand more challenging methods that have lead me to achieve a professional looking product. I believe that now I have a clear understanding of the technological processes that needs to be undergone in order to create a media product and so I believe that not I can independently create something of a high standard.  

I also believe that my knowledge of the magazine and media industry has vastly improved throughout all of the magazine analysis' and the research into different distribution companies, designers and brands. I feel that by understanding and gaining more knowledge in this field has helped me to fully understand what it takes to create a successful product and how it needs too directly appeal to the target market in hand. I have understood this through the various media conventions and how the product needs to conform to them. I have found that I have developed these understandings throughout the feedback from my peers and mentors that have helped me to self-evaluate my work, and how I can alter my product to be a realistic resemblance of a distributed product. 

I believe that the most evident progression from my preliminary task is the layout of the font and positioning of the text(s). Even though I didn't finish my second prelim, I have found that not much thought and detail went into the construction of my preliminary task, there were no precise measurements and margins and it was very simple. The images that I used were not ones that I did not take due to the images that I wanted to capture would of been too challenging for a prelim, and so the images that I did choose were not of a high standard and made my product appear simple and of  very low standard. On the other hand, my final magazine piece clearly shows a contrast in technique, layout, and understanding of the software a lot more and conveys the clear progression throughout the task. 

Throughout the processes of my prelim and other small tasks using the Photoshop software and to my final product, I have found a large improvement within the aesthetics of the piece and how my knowledge and understanding of the software has allowed me to create a media product with conventions within layout and design in mind. I have found that with my prelim and other magazine draft ideas, I kept the design layout simple due to my lack of understanding of how to create an effective piece using the given software. Bu now, I believe that I can create an effective product that challenges the original conventions of a magazine and create exactly what I hoped for. Research and planning has enabled me to create a product that I believe follows the conventions of well-known, successful music magazines (such as Q for my contents page) and allowed me to fully understand how to create a successful product. I believe that when creating my prelim, I did not do enough research into magazine conventions, designers, distributors and photographers that I needed to help me produce a realistic, high-strandard product. 

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

Editing technology software: 

Computer:  For the majority of the making process, I used the school Mac books during lesson times and free study periods. I felt more comfortable completing the work at school on the Mac books than at home due too the HD screens and the full Photoshop software. The easy too use Mac software allowed me too use the same computer every lesson due too my work saving onto that specific Mac which I found a lot more useful. I made use of the given time in order to ensure that i got the work completed on time.    

Ribbet: Throughout all of my photo's that i have incorporated onto my magazine piece, I have used the editing software site of Ribbet that has allowed me too perfect my images through the use of simplistic effects (such as black & white, sepia, act) , auto-fixing, and special effects that have made my model appear more perfected. The main tools that used were the auto-fixing, eye-liner tool, lipstick tool, eyebrow tool, airbrush and the highlighting effect which has given me much better quality photographs.

AbodePhotoshopCS6Extended:  This is the editing software that I used too construct my whole magazine piece throughout the processes. When originally starting to use photoshop to construct and create the preliminary tasks and exercises, I wasn't that confident on the software and only knew how to do certain things (due to the use of Photoshop being needed within my Textiles A level), but now I am a lot more confident and have developed and can nowise this software to my advantage, by creating and editing products in order to finalise them effectively. 

Microsoft Word 2011: I used Microsoft Word to create my double page spread article so that I can see clearly any spelling mistakes I had made, grammatical errors and the layout of the text. It also allowed me too clearly keep track of my word count and ensure that it was around 750 words. Also, it allowed me too easily insert it into my photoshop document accurately due to it already bing efficiently structured on Word.

Presentation Software: 

Blogger: Blogger was the main software that I used in order too keep a blog of all of my research leading up to my final product. It allowed me too easily post and present any work, research, photos and presentations onto my blog in which my teachers and peers can read and review. I aimed to document all stages of my coursework to keep track of what I am doing, achieving and  a quick and simple way of keeping an electronic record of my process leading up to my final product. This software has been a huge help in documenting my processes and gaining feedback.  

Animoto: I used this presentation software to present my 25 word pitch and it allowed me to add music, images and text all into one presentation that changed from slide my slide automatically. I had never used Animoto before but I found it very simple and easy to use and it allowed me to create an effective and professional pitch/presentation. 

Scribd: I used Scribd to upload any written documents that I would then imbed and present onto my blog. I mainly used Scribd to upload my double page spread article due to it being a word document and so instead of copying and pasting it onto my blog, I imbedded it instead. I had never used Scribd before but I have found that it is a very easy and simple software to use and I will continue to use it for further references. 

Internet Explorer/ Google Chrome: The use of the internet was essential as it allowed me to  quickly and easily research information, gain images (such as magazine covers, contents pages, double page spreads, photographers and graphic designers) and information that would help me to finish my final product including sites such as http://www.uktribes.com/ 

Practical hardware/technology: 

Nikon D3200: This is one of medias own cameras that I used too capture my images with and I found that it was a very good quality camera and managed too capture some very good images for my piece that were clear and well produced. This camera was simple to use and allowed me to focus clearly on my model to capture their facial elements fully. I have previously used cameras like the Nikon D3200, so I could easily figure out the settings such as the flash, zoom, and focus on the camera and so when doing my shoot, I could get the images done with ease. 

Lighting: When shooting, I used around 3 soft light boxes in over too create the correct lighting onto my model; highlighting her facial features. Without the use the soft light boxes, I wouldn't of achieved the quality of photos that I did due too the flash on its own causing a shadow and too much of a brightness, and the light boxes allowed me too create a more professional shooting that created the right amount of lighting, shadow and brightness.   

5.How did you attract/address your audience?

My chosen audience age range is from around 16-24 year olds, and so it is a range of younger teenagers too older young adults of both genders. I aimed too achieve be the target markets appeal by involving a range of different colours and music artists throughout my magazine and even though my chosen artists is a women, the way in which she is presented would speak to both sex's. Yet, I did not want my model too be seen through the theory of the 'male gaze' within media, and therefore ensured that she was not highly provocatively dressed and too suggestive to my audience. The use of the mono-chrome colour pallet on the front cover of my magazine creates a sophisticated, simple yet enticing front cover for both genders and all ages due to the formal appeal it connotes. Then use of the monochrome and dark/pastel colours throughout my contents page and double page spread, suggest that the magazine isn't 'girly' due to the 'pop' aspect to it, yet isn't too 'gangsta' due to the r&b side, and therefore suits my audience. 

The very first initial section of the magazine that my reader/audience would see would be the masthead of the magazine. This is due too the magazine being placed on a shelf with hundreds of others, just showing the top few centimetres, and so I needed to make my masthead clear and concise to notice. I decided too use a bold don't in order to make my lettering stand out more and appear more eye-catching, yet I decided too slightly fade my lettering into the main image- creating a more unique feel too my title. The use of  the spaced out letting allowed my 3 letters too fill the whole top of the cover, and creating a 'brand recognition' for my reader due to the bold, spaced lettering that they would notice on the shelves. 

The model I incorporated onto my design is dressed in the current fashion styles that would appeal to my target audience. The simple black blazer is currently in fashion at the moment, and the social group 'stylets' that I connect my audience too are into the latest fashion and so would find the cover relatable. The use of the non-clothing aspect underneath appeals too the influential images of the 'interview' magazine cover involving just a black blazer with a black and white colour pallet. Also, the involvement of a large beige due coat and red lipstick connoted the current autumn fashion of due coats, which again, relates to my audience and the 'fashion' element of my magazine. I found that the use of the simple 'moody' facial expression on the front cover conveys the professionalism of my product following the conjunctions of Billboard and Vogue magazine, yet slight movements and body isolation changes throughout the other images keep my shots simple yet effective. 

On my contents page, I decided too use an image that clearly showed my models attire and colour of the image yet the facial expression of a purposeful gaze. The effect of the image makes the reader drawn to the image due to the model not looking directly at the reader and drifting off, leaving them enticed by their gaze. The use of the clear and concise subheadings, columns and boxes allow the reader too fully understand the content of the magazine and read the simple yet effective page. The use of the different coloured boxes engages the reader more by making the page more unique rather than a dull contents, yet the colours I used still related back to my colour pallet of greys, whites and blacks but the purple added a twist onto the idea by making the contents page stand out more and appear less dull. 

When writing my double page spread, I had to ensure that my grammar and punctuation was accurate and correct to ensure a professional and realistic article. Errors can be noticeable when thoroughly reading through an article, which is was my audience would be doing, and so grammatical errors can lead too lack of interest- causing my magazine to downfall. However,'I had too find the balance between formality and colloquial language for my reader because if my choice of lexis was too formal (such as a vast use of polysyllabic lexis), my reader wouldn't understand- causing a lack of interest in the article and a formal tone not suiting my genre as well. Yet, too much of a colloquial tone would make my article appear cheap and overly simple. So, by using an interview format, I could allow my article too portray the use of colloquial language the right Balance by making it appear more realistic and spontaneous yet still getting the facts and points across of the artists simply and directly.

4.Who would be the audience for your media product?

My intended audience for my magazine would be young males and females with a keen interest in the latest fashion, music and up-coming artists within the genre of pop and r&b. Due to my magazine being distributed every month, I found that using a higher ended price of £4.00 would be acceptable for my target market to pay due to it being a monthly issue for a high end magazine. I found the stereotype 'pop' music lovers seemed too be 12-15 years olds that love Justin Bieber and One Direction, and so I have ensured that my magazine focuses on r&b as well too fully show that the pop music involved may be well know such as Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj, but still takes a more mature route with the song choices spoken about and the way in which the artists are presented within my magazine layout. My readers would be interested in such artists as Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, and Disclosure. All of those mentioned would appeal strongly towards my audience; allowing me too appeal to them directly. Even though my magazine is primarily based on music, it will also involve a large amount of fashion and styles into it in order too cover the whole area of the music industry and celebrities and allowing my audience too have a full variety of topics. 

I believe that within my magazine,'I have styled my model too fit in well with my chosen genre and specification for my shoot by wearing simple yet effective clothing. (I.e a blazer and a due coat). I found that the minimalistic  clothing worked exceptionally well and made my model appear sexy yet sophisticated- fitting my original briefing. By choosing too follow the ideas and conventions of my research photographer Michael Thompson, I found that it fitted my genre of pop and r&b really well by focusing on the facial aspects of the artist too fully coney to my audience the mood set. I believe that by having many influences from different magazines such as Billboard, Q, and NME, made me notice how they mainly focus on the facial expressions of the artist for the main image so that it appears that they are appealing directly to the reader, and so I found this idea useful too incorporate. I also found that by relating the black and white front cover too the strap line (Back to Black), engages my reader too look at my main image even more and recognise who the artist is and read about why they on the front cover, and entices them too found out more.  

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

The media institution that I believe would be the best choice to distribute my magazine would be IPC due to the fact that they have such a wide range of media areas that they cover as well as music. As they already distribute huge music magazine labels such as NME, I feel that they would be a reliable and quality assured institution for my audience. Even though the music magazines that they own are of a different genre to mine, I still believe that the institution Is relevant for me because IPC also distribute women's weekly magazines such as 'Now' and 'Look' which are highly well known and include all about the latest fashion trends and styles which my magazine incorporates as well. Therefore, the use of one of a massive institution that has a field of preferences would suit my magazine well. 

Within marketing my magazine, I believe that the best way in which to do so would be throughout the use of magazine stands, supermarket/news agent stands, and a subscription offers for regular purchasers. I believe that another way in which too distribute my product would be through the use of electronically downloading the issue through the App Store for Iphone users and the App Store for android, allowing the use of my magazine to be set too a wider range of people due to the vast use of technology, especially with the target market for my product (16-24) which means that they are partially known for the use of technology. 

By pricing my magazine at the price of £4.00 conveys that IPC is an ideal distributor for my magazine due to NME being marketed at around £3.00. I believe that by pricing my magazine at a high end price fully conveys how much I would wish for my magazine to be credited and understood as to why it is a higher price. The sophisticated and unique prospect of my magazine portrays why it isn't a cheap magazine and that it is the price it is due to the contextual features and aesthetics of the product. 

Throughout the layout and prospect of my magazine, I believed that by including the use of other well-known music artists would help to boost the recognition of my magazine due to my target market already knowing who the artists are and encouraging them too read my piece. I included the use of other artists such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga into my contents page through the use of 'interviews' and 'question & answers' in order too make my magazine relate more to my genre and appear more relatable to my audience by having other famous artists involved. 

2.How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Throughout the research and planning stages of deciding on my particular social group too aim my product at, I needed to ensure that the audience research and profile was significant to my particular social group. The research and planning gave me a clear in-site into the type of audience(s) that would read my magazine and therefore played a high role in deciding on my artist ti involve in my magazine and their genre. After doing critical research on UK Tribes, I found that 'Stylers' and 'Fan Girls' (within reason) represented my social grouping and from this information, I then began too make decisions on what genre/artist too incorporate. 

Choosing just a solo artist for my magazine made it easier for me to create my piece directly on them, and focus on their individual look and appeal to the audience. Even though my model is my age (16-17) I found that throughout her images, she appears older than she actually is. By her appearing older and more sophisticated that she really is, made my product appeal too the wide-ranged audience that i originally chose- 16-24 year olds. Her bold, serious yet sexual appealing photographs really reflected on the researched photographers such as Michael Thompson and Irving Penn. 

The following image I chose for my front cover really connotes the vibe I originally hope for when designing my piece by telling my model to use poses as the 'chocolate box' and the 'invitational' looks in order too reflect on my seductive vibe. I wanted her too look fierce yet inviting in order too attract people too read the magazine, and metaphorically, if my artist ('Roxy') was a genuine artist, then people would be enticed by her new-found appearance. 

1.In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Throughout the planning stage of my magazine idea, I took inspiration from various other music magazines such as Q, NME, Billboard and I-D. I chose too look at the graphological and aesthetic features of the product in order too be able too create a magazine that follow the style of a well known magazine. I-D and Billboard magazine appealed too me the most for the designing and layout of my front cover, especially the Miley Cyrus 2013 issue in which the cover appears very plain and simple yet works perfectly with the main image and colour theme, and so I intended to use this issue as inspiration for my own by creating something unique, simple and effective.Therefore, i chose too use the masthead of my magazine name and then incorporate a strap line 'Back to `black' in order too play on the colour theme of the front cover, just like on Billboard with how the strap line 'Miley 2.0' conveying that its the new her. Q magazine was an especially large inspiration for me due to my contents page being done in the layout of their July 2011 edition featuring Adele on the cover and contents. The way in which the contents page was laid out inspired me too follow the same conventions of how it appeared graphologically on the page, due to the amount of text used too describe what was inside the issue yet the simplicity of the layout made it not appear as busy as it seems. I liked the idea of the use of various colour schemes that all interlinked throughout and so I incorporated my own in order to make it more suitable for my genre and piece. Q uses a red, white, black and grey colour scheme an so on my contents I chose too use white, purple, black and grey in order to suit my colour scheme as well. Throughout my double page spread, I was influenced by Q magazines Lady Gaga issue in which the main image covered the whole left side of the page and the first letter of the artists name in an overly large font in order too blend into the text on the right hand side. I found that this idea made my piece appear more sophisticated due to the layout of the double page spread and followed the conventions of a successful, well known music magazine.  

Throughout my photographers research, Michael Thompson had a huge impact on the way that I captured my images. He focus' mainly on the face and how he captures the shadows highlighting the facial features in blah and white, and for my magazine, I wanted a black and white theme for my front cover and so I believed that Thompson would be my influence. With my model, I chose too focus on her facial expressions in order too capture her emotions that associate with my theme that I am aiming too convey. Looking at his work, It made me plan and think about what I would want my model too wear, have her make-up like and too set up the lighting and get it to work well in his style. This took a lot of planning in order too gain images that I was happy with and foreshowed his framework and conventions. 

Even though I challenged the conventions of a busy magazine cover, I still took into consideration the layout of a magazine itself by having the masthead at the largest piece of text and a strap line in order too portray to the audience what is involved within the issue. My choice of magazine title 'PNB' (abreviated from 'pop and r&b) was a unique and interesting choice for my magazine as it fully demonstrates the genre of my magazine within the title. I got inspiration for my title through the NME (New Musical Express) because I liked the idea of having a title that stood for something yet foreshadows the genre. 

Once I had taken images too work with for the contents of my piece, I had took decide on how too lay them out. At first, I original wanted images of another model that I could incorporate into my contents page somewhere in order too not make the whole magazine seem too much about my chosen artist, but after feedback form my peers I realised that it would not work as effectively as I hoped. By following the conventions of Q magazine for my contents page, I realised that I still had a lot of space left at the bottom too fill after I placed my image on and text. And so, I decided to do my own 'Top 20 songs' in order too make my magazine appear more realistic and interactive. 

Evaluation Tasks

Evaluation Tasks

Useful websites to help you can be found in the link bar on the right hand side. 

For the final 20 marks of the project, you must complete seven tasks on your blog, posting them in this order, with the question heading at the top of each task. You may do them as a pair/group, but must post individual copies on each blog. Make sure you answer each question as well as producing the visual elements. Try not to write more than 1500 words in total.

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

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups ?

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

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

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

7. Looking back at your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

Final magazine piece

 

Final week targets

My final targets are to finish of my contents page and to finalise my double page spread. By changing both layouts near too the deadline, I need to ensure that i am happy with my decisions and that my magazine looks presentable and professional. 

Targets for this week

My targets for this week are too re-create and finish off the new layout of my contents page in order too follow the style of 'Q' magazine. I believe that this will make my contents page appear more realistic by following, yet altering, the layout of a style model.   

I also aim too take some more pictures of my model Shannen for my magazine that I will incorporate onto my contents and double page spread. I also aim too finish off the layout of my double page spread.