Evaluation Question Seven

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

Looking back at my preliminary task, I realise that the difference in skill level is vast. I have learnt a lot about how magazines are produced and especially in what features I need in order to make them look professional. I changed the outlook from my preliminary task to my final product loads; especially with the theme of my retro originality, and use of colour palette and fonts.

When analysing different types of magazines, I realised that probably one of the most important elements was the cover model. Looking back at the front cover of my preliminary task, I realise that the cover model didn't display much emotion or convey anything in particular that was relevant to the magazine I was selling for the college. After researching many different genres of magazines, I have come to realise that differing emotion, such as the hint of sexuality or a mysterious persona, that is portrayed through the cover model can have a major impact on how your magazine is viewed by its consumers.

I know that they were both of myself, but my preliminary task image gave off a very plain student vibe (and I didn't even link it in to a headline on the cover). Whereas on my final product, I hoped to give off the potential vibes of a carefree attitude, with edge appealing to both genders. Also, through changing the colour scheme to black and white thanks to the editing tools in Adobe Photoshop, with my main popping colour of red, I was able to create a look of individualism, with a hint of sophistication, but which obviously wasn't too feminine. I changed the costumes too; my green jumper gave off a calm and collected persona in my preliminary task, but the denim jacket in my final product gave off a edgy rock-chic vibe.

Plus, with the ability to change the effects and colour of the image, it can further represent what type of genre and style your magazine is centered towards. For my preliminary task, my ability to edit and change the look of my images was very limited, because I was using the software, Microsoft Publisher. This was very basic; I could barely cut out the background of my image for the front cover, leaving an awfully non-relevant colour behind. At this point, I used this software because I had no idea on how to use Photoshop, which I now know has a far better range of editing equipment for its consumers to interact with.

The development of my technological use has become a lot more advanced and definitely changed throughout my course. I now know how to grasp a lot of the elements of Photoshop, as well as editing images and texts so that they are relevant to what is being advertised in the task set.

For example, in my preliminary task, I used the most basic of fonts for even my masthead and main sell lines on my front cover; which I now know wouldn't have appealed to a larger audience around the college. It was far too simple, and even the colour scheme at times was too harsh on the eye which I realised wouldn't attract many people because it seemed too tacky. When comparing it to my music magazine's front cover, I can tell the difference straight away. The mastheads are immensely different; my music magazine one is bold and in the middle of the page, with a red outline, accentuating the style I was aiming to give off. I was only able to obtain this text through realising that this software allowed its consumers to download their own fonts so that they could be used in their product. This really helped me along with the process of making my magazine look as professional as it could be with my recent skills acquired of Photoshop.

 

When I compare both my contents pages from both tasks, I can tell that my skill level has improved a lot, partly due to analysis from realistic magazines, and realising which features are important within them; these elements can range from the all-important feature of your cover model's story, to adding perhaps an editor's note at the top of the page.

First of all, the layout and composition of my final product is a whole lot more professional than that of my preliminary task. In the latter, my choice of colours was minimal, but at the same time, they were really basic and unprofessional because of their boldness, contrasting with the basic fonts. Plus, the preliminary task was pretty much 'cut' into four parts; contents, image, text and a small review. After researching real contents pages, I realise that the quality of mine, plus the relevance and layout was very poor. I didn't know how to construct a contents page properly because of my limited knowledge anyway, plus that current software was far too basic.

So, looking at my music magazine's contents page, I know that I have added pretty much all of the needed aspects of a real one into it; and the outcome is professional, especially the layout. This is due to the fact that everything is spaced out equally, and I knew where to place certain elements of the magazine depending on its importance.

I have realised that through Photoshop, I can create a realistic magazine because of the countless editing tools which are available, unlike on Microsoft Publisher, where I could only really rotate images and maybe take the background out of them.

I've also changed the general contents feature, into something far more exciting to read with the colour palettes and the different tones due to the editing effects. It stands out a lot more than my preliminary contents feature because of this, and especially through adding in quirky fonts like Lemondrop.

On a whole, I feel like I have improved dramatically. Through using relevant sources, like real magazines, peer feedback, Photoshop and coming to terms with how a magazine is put together, I feel as though my final product reflects my step up from my preliminary task loads.

Evaluation Question Six

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

Looking back on the start of the year, my knowledge with important technologies to produce my magazine was very limited. I knew how to use my DSLR properly though to take decent images for my magazine, using my Nikon D3000, with 10 megapixels (which may not seem like loads these days but the quality was at a high standard for my product). Another aspect which I already knew was how to edit these photos when uploaded to a computer or MAC; so this really came in handy, especially if I wanted an image in black and white changed from colour.

But with the likes of Adobe Photoshop, my knowledge was awful. To be quite honest, I wasn't confident at all in thinking what my product would look like in its final stages because of how limited my skill level was. Within this software, tools such as the 'Magic Wand Tool' and the 'Lasso Tool' helped me to edit my images on the different pages to a very high standard; they looked professionally done when I erased the background, and I was even able to use the 'Brightness' and 'Contrast' tools to change the colours of the images and the depth. Another element which I grasped was 'Layering'; at first I didn't have a clue on how it worked, but after help and a lot of time experimenting with moving the different 'layers' around so that the images and text could be either in front or behind one another, I was able to make the elements of a suitable music magazine look professional and to a good standard that looks realistic. Another one would be the ability to download different texts into the numerous different fonts that come with Photoshop; this really helped me to choose from a range of fonts that were suitable for the style of my magazine, like "TEAM SPIRIT' and 'LEMON DROP'... With many hours of building up these skills gradually, and finally coming to grips with this software, I felt as though my final product really reflects on how far I have advanced, and although my skill level even now isn't the best, my opinion on building my knowledge is positive wholly.

Furthermore, with evaluating my magazine I learnt how to use the likes of www.animoto.com, to produce professional-looking videos that were suitable in presenting a different form of media apart from the standard www.blogger.com, which helped me to make my blog look professional however and make my media knowledge expand further with different elements. I would say that Blogger was the easiest aspect to grasp; it's simple and straightforward to use, and let me add links and photographs to my posts, expanding on the content of them. It gave me far more freedom than the standard essay; it let me delve into my creative side and even change the backdrop for my blog, and add my own personal twist towards it.

On a whole, I feel as though I have really learnt the most on Adobe Photoshop. Like I said, my knowledge was very limited, but after time I really got the hang of using the software. It helped me to edit photos in a way that I have never known before; unlike Microsoft Publisher which I used to create my preliminary task. Although at first, I couldn't come to terms with layering on Photoshop, after a while, I learnt that they were really important for editing/hiding/deleting certain aspects in all three of my magazine pages.

Evaluation Question Five

How did you attract/address your audience?

Featured 'model' and 'artist'

Obviously, I chose myself for my main artist because I found it would be far more simple than having to ask around my friends for a time-consuming task of photographing them. I feel as though I have attracted my audience through the somewhat carefree attitude I have presented, especially on my front cover. My expression isn't too girly; I'm barely smiling, which indicates that the tone of my magazine is quite serious; it appeals to both genders through the sense of carefree attitude. Although it is suggestive that my magazine is still rather laid-back, especially when the audience go to the DPS and find that I'm smiling proudly with the music editor, Robyn Green. This gives off a sense that I take this artist takes their music seriously, but they can still be confident and have a laugh with others, signifying they aren't snobbish because of their position in the music industry, further giving my magazine a sense of a welcoming attitude.

Competitions and Reviews

Through the additional features including reviews in my magazine, I feel as though this would attract my audience because of the relevance to people's interests. Obviously, people do sometimes buy a new album with hesitation, even if they're really fond of the artist, so through adding reviews into my contents page it should help to deliver a sense of help towards my audience. For example, I have taken Ellie Goulding's second album, Halcyon, which is definitely a change from her debut, therefore her fans may want to know what this change involves.

I have also added two competitions, both very different in genre, but this again appeals to a wide variety of audiences. I have made sure that my audience would be familiar with these artists, especially with Katy Perry who I have said will be performing live in Paris. This should heighten the competition's achievement because of the location in which the artist is playing; Paris is one of the most popular and cultured cities in the world, and everyone is familiar with it. On a whole, competitions make the magazine seem more welcome with its audience, and it should draw them in closer to reading it.

 

Additional, Familiar Artists

The artists featured are all on my iPod (bar the fictional of course), representing that my music taste is diverse. But I have chosen familiar artists for my audience, and placed those on the front cover to attract them further with how popular and/or individual these artists are of today. Furthermore, to mix with the differentiating genres, I have added some unfamiliar artists here as well, like Framing Hanley and Wheatus. This helps towards the idea that my magazine promotes smaller bands who are still making their way up in the music industry; the magazine doesn't just feature well-known artists.

 

Evaluation Question Four

Who would be the audience for your media product?

http://animoto.com/play/S3lq97A6MRzHYiIB1eBzDw

Clicking on the above link should take you to my Animoto video of my fourth evaluation question, explaining the suitability, age range etc...

Age: 18

One of my friends, Andy Armour, may read Lights because of the simplicity of the composition and colour palette, as well as the variety of artists featured within my magazine too. I know that Andy likes rather heavy music, but he also likes bands such as Paramore with female vocalists, so Ellie Rose from The Small Things may appeal to him because of the similarities within these two bands.

Evaluation Question Three

What kind of media institute might distribute your product and why?

http://animoto.com/play/9AnkpEcSoIOOOZpYI1vwiw#

Clicking on the above link should take you to an Animoto video which I have created to show, through a different form of media, the publishers and ways of distribution which could be used for my magazine.

IPC Media has been chosen as one of my media institutions because, after researching their company, I realised that they were the publishers of NME; this particular magazine has been one of my most important inspirations. They also publish many women's magazines too, like the famous fashion-weekly, LOOK magazine. So it's definitely suggestive that my own magazine could be published by this certain institution.

The second media institution that could possibly publish my magazine would be BAUER Media. They publish the very popular music magazines, Kerrang! and Q. These two magazines as well have been some of my most important inspirations throughout the construction of my own music magazine; therefore I find that this particular company could possibly publish mine because of the appeal to a good variety of audiences as well as the ability for both genders to be interested in such as well.

This is partly due to the fact that they publish both men and women magazines, such as Closer and Grazia, plus for men they're the publishers of Kerrang! (A usually more dominating male-themed magazine because of the music genres featured plus the colour palettes).

Evaluation Question Two

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

I've been inspired by Q and NME mostly with my magazine's outcome, especially with their colour palettes and the variety of artists featured within the magazines. What I am concentrating on here however, is the artist featured on my magazine's front cover. The differences of Cheryl Cole and Florence Welch are rather contrasting; one is a mainstream pop artist whereas the other delivers a powerful voice mixed with upbeat drums and alternative music. I have chosen Q as one of my inspirations due to this difference in which they always seem to give off to their audience in each issue. Although their poses are somewhat seductive, and my own in my magazine is laid-back and carefree, I still took on the idea of having a powerful image that should help to sell my magazine. My own image represents cool, carefree stances, that appeal to both genders through the powerful  pose of looking not too bothered, and at the same time, making eye contact directly at the audience brings in the portrayal of importance.

The poses shown tend to give off a hint of sexual feminism and power, representing a dominating and sensual womanly figure in the media. Their costumes and facial expressions deliver such aspects; they want to appear demeaning and mysterious. Q are inspirational for difference, so I've tried to take on the look of mystery too with my pose being a little carefree and barely showing a smile. Overall, my aim was to attract an audience who aren't girly; they have an edge, a difference and they like a variety of things; they don't live up to the media's 'perfect' expectations and they like being original in their style.

Evaluation Question One

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

Masthead

First of all, I want to point out the masthead of my magazine. The title is 'Lights' for a reason; I felt as though the idea of artists' 'names in lights' was a great appeal towards the genre of my magazine. Taking concerts as an example; before you go into the venue, the artist's name is usually always mounted above the entrance in lights, with simple lettering, appealing to the audience below. To my audience, this will be a common aspect; they probably go to concerts regularly and will understand why I have named my magazine, Lights. Furthermore, the font which I used appealed to the original, retro theme of my magazine; through adding a deep-red outline against the white text, it contrasted against the grey background, enhancing my audience's senses in wanting to look at my magazine more. The masthead is in the centre, making it look important and professional, like Kerrang's masthead or Look magazine.

Style and Composition

The style is pretty obvious in my magazine; retro and rather quirky simplicity. Minimalism is a strong aspect of my magazine because it somewhat appeals to both genders, plus it gives off a professional outlook. Taking the fonts which I have used for starters, are very important as part of the outcome, as they contrast with the basic pop of red tones and monochrome colours which I have used throughout. The font for the masthead was taken from the website, 'Da Font', which allowed me to browse numerous themed fonts that would be suitable. I chose the theme, 'retro' and found 'Team Spirit'. I really liked how it was relevant to that of Slam Dunk festival's font, and the simplicity really caught my attention. Furthermore, for my 'Original Rock, Original Roll' title on my DPS, I used the font, 'Lemondrop', also found from the retro theme on 'Da Font'. On a whole, I found that the font generally was a very important aspect of my magazine; it added further emphasis on the composition and features included.
The composition is very basic, but that gives it a hint of added professionalism. It's apparent that throughout my magazine pages, I have tried to make the features stand apart from one another with enough space, and to not have sell lines for example, being over-crowded and difficult to read. This is important when attaining a smart look for my audience.

Styling and People

Obviously my main artist featured is myself, as I found it a lot easier to take a photograph of myself with my SLR and self-timer, than having to arrange a meeting with one of my friends to use a photograph of them, which can prove time-consuming and they may not even feel comfortable in doing so. Looking back at my costume ideas, I have stuck to these thoughts with the use of wearing a denim jacket on my front cover, and a checkered shirt on my contents and DPS pages. This hopefully lends to the overall simplicity, and general relaxed vibes that my magazine gives to the audience; I didn't want the model to be dressed up for a night out, with a short dress on for example or her hair done neatly. As you can see, I've delivered a pose which is neutral, but adds effect through the way I am holding my hair; giving off a relaxed, carefree persona.

Overall Genre

To people who weren't fans of my magazine, defining the genre may prove a little challenging. I have 'Ellie Rose' as a somewhat punk-pop, rock-vibe artist, whereas Ellie Goulding is featured in my magazine who is known for her electro-pop vibes with a bit of added guitar. My overall genre appeals to most people these days; I know for myself that tonnes of people won't stick to one genre in the music industry. They'll have genres probably ranging from drum and bass to a mix of rap and metal. My genre is equal to most people's music tastes; I have added difference in my theme therefore the genres will accustom to the vibes of music that's featured. I have nothing featured however, on totally generic boy-bands or artists who have some talent but are still overly famous because their music is mainstream. I didn't want that; the style of my music in the magazine varies, but they all have their own personas in the music industry, and I wanted to hint at my audience that difference is key.