Introduction

Production: Final Front Cover

Production: Final Contents Page

Production: Final Double Page Spread

Evaluation: Question 1

Evaluation: Question 2

Evaluation: Question 3

Evaluation: Question 4

Evaluation: Question 5

Evaluation: Question 6

Evaluation: Question 7

Feedback: Improvements

-Re-upload front cover and compress the titles on the page to move attention to the artists
-Typos on contents and incorporate Twitter references
-Consider branding of duo and make TL2 logo the same
-DPS: Rework images

Music Magazine Feedback Questionnaire

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Production: Double Page Spread Layout

                                    

It's most common to align photos in the centre on magazines. However, when I centred this image in the centre it overlapped one of the models in the background photograph and looked messy. Therefore, I aligned the image to the left so the audience can clearly see all of the images on the page.

 To make my text look a little bolder I outlined the font using 'Stroke' tool with a really dark green, grey colour. The dark colours connote that they are a masculine band. 

Production: Double Page Spread Layout

I decided to add a photograph as a background and created faded texts box's on the top to make the text clear to read. The photo in the back illustrates what the interview is about, their hometown on the beach. By adding a photo on the side portrays a range of photos have been taken and it makes the double page spread look more exciting. 

I began by trying to put the halves of each face together by their features didn't align. I then put their faces on each side of the page but I don't think it was very effective or professional. It didn't stand out.

I then tried a simpler approach by fading out a picture of the two band members and adding a shadow effect behind them but once again it didn't appeal to the audience and looked boring. 

Adding a fact file on the bottom of the page makes the article a little more interesting and fun for the fans to read. 

 The green coloured title stands out on the text box, however it doesn't co-ordinate with the colours throughout the double page spread. The black 'Stroke' tool used to outline 'TL2 Fact File' does help to emphasize the text at the bottom of the page.

Production: Front Cover Editing

A strip diagonally across the bottom of the front cover isn't a common connotation of a music magazine, therefore to make it look more professional I moved the strip along the bottom, also leaving me enough room for more tag lines.

Production: Main Image Choice

I added the chosen typography to the main image and compared each one. I think the photo on the left is brighter and bolder, the models are superimposed over the masthead which is a common technique with magazine production to ensure the models stand out to the target audience.

Production: Possible Masthead Typography

I chose a range of different fonts which I thought related to the genre of my magazine. I used the 'Stroke' tool to outline each font with a colour so they stand out on the main image. I don't think a white outlining is extremely bold and the typography isn't very appealing. Through process of elimination my final masthead typography is presented underneath.

Production: Photo Editing

   Cropping out unnecessary background objects to make the photo look more effective and  professional.

Use editing tools such as 'Retouch' to airbrush model to make them look more appealing to target audience.

There was originally a pole sticking out the top of one models head, this can be seen as a distraction from the actual photo, therefore retouching it dissolves this distraction.

Both these photographs are very similar however the one on the right can be seen as more effective due to the direct mode of address, eye contact is used by the models.

On photoshop the 'Magnetic Lasso Tool' helped to crop out any unnecessary background objects which prevent the photos looking unprofessional.

Planning: Artist Profile

My magazine 'Soundcheck' will feature a recently discovered British hip hop, R'n'B and soul male duo 'TL2' who are newcomers to the music scene. The band have recently been the support act for one of their most influential artist Plan B on his UK tour. They are highly talented and landed a record deal with Sony, the article will help promote their new single which has already begun to climb the UK official chart. Their feature on a double page spread will include an interview with TL2, the band will refer back to their hometown, their childhood friendship and how they made it to the music industry. As well as an interview the page will also include a range of interesting facts about either Taylor or Leigh. The purpose of the double page spread will be to entertain and inform readers because 'Soundcheck' want their target audience to admire the band and possible aspire to be like them.

Musical Influences: Labrinth, Plan B, Drake, Frank Ocean, Usher & Bruno Mars
Fashion: Topman, Fred Perry, Obey, Vans, Levi's & Urban Outfitters
Film: Stepbrothers, Forrest Gump, Inception, Shawshank Redemption & The Hangover

Planning: Semantic Field

• Fresh
• Young
• Mainstream
• Current
• Cool
• Hip Hop
• Chilled
• Upbeat
• Street
• Fashionable
• Common
• Trendy

Planning: Music Magazine Mood Board

Research: Focus Group Thoughts

Audience Feedback on Proposed Free Download
My Focus Groups Thoughts:
Chilled R'n'B
Mainstream

Research: Q Analysis

'Q' Analysis on Prezi

Q Double Page Spread on Prezi

Research: NME Analysis

NME Double Page Spread Analysis

Headline: The headline of the double page spread for NME states “Don’t mention The Streets”, this is created as a pun because the article is featured on the lead singer Mike Skinner previous band The Streets, therefore the headline suggests that past section of his life is now over and shouldn't be spoken about again. However from a pun point of view, "The Streets" connotes the rough areas of a city for example London. The headline is in large, navy, simple typography so it is easy to read, yet "The Streets"is presented in slightly larger typography to catch the attention of readers because the band used to be very famous and well known. The title is imposed on a white background to emphasise the feature headline, the darker colour typography stands out to an audience.

Sub-headline: The sub-headline is a brief summary of what is upcoming in the text of the double page spread. The typography is in the same colour font as the headline so they both coordinate with one another, however certain names are highlighted in red to show the importance of 'Mike Skinner' throughout the article, the names that are clearly focused on, this gives the audience a clear indication. A rhetorical question "can the man who invented his own genre ever properly push things forward again?", this technique interests and intrigues the reader to find out for themselves in the text.

Text: The text is the key aspect of a double page spread and is commonly represented in the same styled typography as in most other magazines, small and black. It is also usually laid out into two or three columns for a layout which is organised, easy to read and common in every other magazine article. Drop caps are used to indicate to the reader the beginning of where the article is, drop caps are usually in deliberately large letters which coordinate with the headline, a drop cap is basically the very first letter of the first sentence, for example 'T'. The text includes a large amount of quotations from a conversational interview with Mike Skinner, as well as actions Mike Skinner does throughout the meeting, such as, "he gives me a look of sympathy and pity before saying...". This type of interviewing gives a sense of realism to readers, as if they are really there, involved in the interview. There is a pull quote positioned at the bottom of the page, "I always liked suits. And now I move less", these small quotations are in a large font, in quotation marks, separated away from the text. Readers like to read short, simple pull quotes before they begin the article to become intrigued about what else the interview has to offer.

Images: There is only one large image covering a whole A4 page on this particular double page spread. The photo represents the featured artist Mike Skinner with his fingers in his ears to reinforce the headline of the double page, he has also rolled his eyes to one side as if he is looking the other way to the camera and possibly the article on the other page, this body language connotes that he doesn't want to hear what has to be said, "don't mention". This is a mid shot image so the audience can clearly see his facial expression and upper body language. His clothing is the same as the clothes on the front cover, the blazer and gold watch show that he could be a successful business man but the stubbled beard and average appearance connotes normality, like "The Streets".

Research: Kerrang! Analysis

Kerrang! Analysis from EveSalmon

Research: Focus Group

1. What's your name? George Salmon
2. How old are you? 18
3. What school do you go to? University of Leicester
4. Do you have any hobbies or interests? Going out with friends, football and playing on my xbox
5. What is your favourite genre of music? Indie and Rap
6. Who is your favourite artist or band? Jay Z and Kanye West
7. How often do you purchase music magazines? Never
8. What is the maximum price you would pay for a music magazine? £2.50
9. What features in a music magazine would interest you the most? Artist interviews





1. What's your name? Annabel Barnes
2. How old are you? 17
3. What school do you go to? Southend High School for Girls
4. Do you have any hobbies or interests? Shopping, swimming and listening to music
5. What is your favourite genre of music? Pop and R'n'B
6. Who is your favourite artist or band? Rihanna 
7. How often do you purchase music magazines? Every few months
8. What is the maximum price you would pay for a music magazine? £3.00
9. What features in a music magazine would interest you the most? Fact files and interviews 




1. What's your name? Anna Skelding
2. How old are you? 16
3. What school do you go to? Southend High School for Girls
4. Do you have any hobbies or interests? Going to concerts, surfing the internet and going out with friends
5. What is your favourite genre of music? R'n'B and Hip Hop
6. Who is your favourite artist or band? Justin Bieber
7. How often do you purchase music magazines? Monthly
8. What is the maximum price you would pay for a music magazine? £3.00
9. What features in a music magazine would interest you the most? Artist interviews or exclusive stories

Focus Group Questions

1. What's your name?
2. How old are you?
3. What school do you go to?
4. Do you have any hobbies or interests?
5. What is your favourite genre of music?
6. Who is your favourite artist or band?
7. How often do you purchase music magazines?
8. What is the maximum price you would pay for a music magazine?
9. What features in a music magazine would interest you the most?

Chav Youth Subculture

Sixth Form Magazine Analysis

Sixth Form Magazine Contents Page

Sixth Form Magazine Front Cover

Possible Photos for my Front Cover

1. 2.3.

4. 5.

             

Here are a few of the shots I have taken for the front cover of my sixth form magazine. I can easily eliminate a few because of obvious faults. Number 2 hasn't go a very appealing setting in the background, it includes roads and a skip. I like number 3 but the flash on the camera and lighting reflected on the glass trophy cabinet and the windy weather in number 5 is represented by the messy hair in number 5.

Flat Plan Sketch

Sixth Form Magazine Analysis

Focus Group Questions

1. What's your name?
2. How old are you?
3. What hobbies do you like to do outside of school?
4. What is you're favourite genre of music?
5. How often do you read magazines?
6. What type of magazines do you like to read?
7. What is the maximum you would spend on a magazine?

Image Analysis

The content analysis of this image suggests that it is a polysemic photograph, it is a sign which is capable of producing a number of different meanings. The picture represents the buzzing city of New York, the yellow taxi nearest to the camera is an iconic sign for this particular state, it is commonly related to the New York culture and has genuinely become an icon associated with the cities transport system. The taxi is the biggest code which connotes that the image is taken in New York. Whereas the image denotes a yellow car driving through a manic city. The tall buildings around the car with bright lights and screens are codes that represent Times Square, another iconic sign relating to the city, Times Square is definitely a symbol used in magazines, films and television to represent New York and show off its technologic advances, advertisements and tourist attractions. 

The picture could typically be found in a travel magazine or on the internet to attract tourists to the modern, popular city. Therefore it is most likely taken by a professional photographer to capture New York through iconic features, the photographer most likely went through the process of editing the image to make it vibrantly coloured and to make the taxi well focused on by use of the specific angle it is taken at. If a historian looked at this photograph in 2400 they would probably be overwhelmed by the technological advances in society, they might not even believe that the photo is real because cars and electricity would be unimaginable and unheard of in that period of time. 

This is a portrait image of the celebrity couple Beyonce Knowles and Jay Z. The photo has clearly been taken whilst they're on holiday due to the visual code of the blue sea, the yachts in the background and the seating area where they are sat denotes a restaurant therefore this could be a seaside resort. The huge, luxurious yachts deep into the ocean are an iconic sign of wealth, the couple are extremely rich therefore it could very well be theirs. Beyonce is perched on her partners lap, this is an indexical sign, it is direct evidence that the couple are still happily together and much in love. She is resting her head on her hand and looking out into the beautiful view which connotes that she is enjoying the atmosphere and taking in what is around her and completely oblivious to the camera. Whereas Jay Z is using the direct mode of address but I doubt he was posing, the photographer could just be a friend who wanted to capture a natural shot because paparazzi wouldn't have been able to join the couple on their relaxing holiday. Both of them are wearing sunglasses and summery garments (t-shirts and shorts), this codes for hot, sunny weather which relates to the indexical sign that they are vacating. In general the image connotes that the couple are very relaxed due to their casual body language and the glass of wine on the table, they're enjoying themselves in peace, therefore it isn't likely that a paparazzi captured this photograph and this is a true image. 

Image Analysis Notes

Image Analysis Notes

• Different audiences might decipher the same image in different ways.
• Understanding visual codes: Images transmit their meaning through signs (visual clues), also referred to as codes; 

- The code of expression: facial expressions

- The code of gesture: the way they hold their bodies (body language)

- The code of clothing: what we think of ourselves

- The code of objects and backgrounds

- The code of technique: the way the photograph is taken (angle, pose, colour, lens, focus, indoors/outdoors, narrative)

• Filmmakers like to use storyboards to plan films. A series of still pictures to organise the film into a story form.
• Denotation Visual Description Connotation Interpretation (a picture is worth a thousand words)
• Caption: words that go underneath a picture explaining what is happening in the shot
• Selection of news photos: Thousands of photographs are sent to editors of various newspapers and they have to narrow them all down to one which really captures the point of the news story, a photo which will catch the eye of readers.
• Cropping: whether to trim the photo down for effect. The position will influence how people look at it.
• Advertising images: the objective of advertising agencies is to present the audience with a dream world. Every product is constructed to perfection.

School Photography Shots

School Photography

The photograph to the left shows an exterior shot of part of a school, representing it in a positive way. The photo denotates a bright, colourful picture of a pathway, trees and a sector of the schools building. The image connotates a clean, respected area which is appreciated by passers by and students within the school.The photo could also represent a middle to upper class culture in society because the school looks well presented

in comparison to other negatively represented schools.

This is an image of chewing gum stuck to the bottom of a canteen table within a school, when this is decoded it could connotate lack of hygiene within the school and disrespect from the students. Therefore the photograph represents the school in a negative way.

This photograph is a close up of the symbol, the Christian cross. This code is originally recognised from the Christianity religion, the Bible and the Church, it is an iconic sign around all different cultures. However it could also be interpreted in a different way, recently the symbol can be seen as a fashion statement on clothes or as jewellery. Different cultures can relate the symbol to different meanings

The image on the left relates to the previous photograph because it anchors the meaning of the cross. The photo clearly shows a school student, Molly, holding the holy Bible which links to the cross symbol. The large Bible could be presented as negotiated reading because the Christian religion does not agree with other religions and it's beliefs within can be argued with different conspiracy theories. Molly is also using the direct mode of address to connect with the audience, looking into the camera is a method which can attract a viewers attention. 

This picture is a mid shot which interprets boredom. The setting can be represented as a library which is commonly seen as a very quiet, gloomy area. The body language of these two school students includes closed eyes and heads rested onto the palms of their hands, a classic expression that they are both bored and exhausted.

Contrasting with the previous photo, this image shows a brighter, cheerful mid shot. A connotation of two happy students working hard on their studies with a good attitude. You can recognise this from the smiley facial expression on the closest student and both their body language presents a writing motion with their hands to show they're working and their heads are looking down, proving that they are focused on the school work they have to get done.