Alternate Photographs for Editorial Note (Music Magazine)

Alternate Photographs for Contents Page (Music Magazine)

Initial Photgraphs (Music Magazine)

Photographs taken for Music Magazine on Prezi

I decided to take further images of different models to use on my contents page allowing me to make my magazine more interesting for the consumer.

 

When taking these images I experimented with different lighting using spotlights to see what effects it would give my image. Also I used a cigarette as a prop to make the model seem more rebellious and "indie" which clearly shows the typical stereotype of youths with this music taste. Also the serious facial expression is effective as I wanted to make the article information related about her drug abuse/rebellious attitude. I actually chose to use the top right image as a thumbnail on my contents page as the picture quality is clear and the use of a shadow connotes an almost split personality (which matches the article related) and also shows the dark rebellious side of her personality.

Location Ideas

To gain  professional appearing images I intend to use the green screening room as it provides high tech lighting facilities and background choices. This room provides a simple white background which could be useful as a basis for Photoshop as the background would be easy to remove. Alternatively, the different lighting positions could be use to create different effects, for example shadows. It is conventional for simple backgrounds to be used on magazine front covers as it allows other conventional features such as the masthead/coverlines/tagline ect to stand out on the page. During my photo shoot I intend to take many images of my model with different lighting effects giving me the opportunity to discuss the different connotions created.

 

The green room:

 

 

 

 

I also explored the idea of combining many different magazine covers together such as NME and Q which directly associates the image with the music magazine. However this could have a negative effect on the publication of my music magazine as it could be perceived as promoting alternate magazines. Perhaps I could combine simple band images following the Indie and Rock genre. As today's society is "celebrity obsessed" this choice of background would definitely target my audience. The readers would have an immediate appeal to the magazine from instantly recognising their favourite bands and artists advertised.

 

An example image:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definition of "Indie"

Below is a quote from the website Urban Dictionary:

( http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=indie )

I felt it was important to research the actual definition of the term "Indie" as in today's society it not only has reference to a genre of music but also the expected audience characteristics; how the concepts of individualism have become ironically mainstream. This will have a large impact on the content of the photographs I include on my magazine as clearly the dynamic nature of the music industry has had a large affect on the audience, causing new fashion brands to become conventional (mise-en-scene) of the Indie genre.

Focusing on more of a traditional form of the Indie genre might not target the current audience who buys music magazines. Previously expected audience members of this genre still buy this form of magazine therefore I do not want to make LEAD completely go against conventions in case it has a negative effect on the magazines popularity. But (equally as risky) a change could target this new audience and make my magazine completely unique with a whole new ideology to that of existing magazines. During my photo shoot session I am going to use a number of different models portraying different images and then gain audience feedback giving me valued opinions on the most effective image.

Initial Ideas for my Masthead (Music Magazine)

After identifying my music genre I must now consider different music magazine names which would be appropriate for my target audience and genre.

• I think using the masthead "Indie" would be very effective as it directly targets the audience of the specific genre chosen. This would appeal to the customers with this music taste on a shelf against its competitors as it is very direct and clear about what music type the magazine will contain.
•  From analysing different music magazine I thought the masthead Q worked well as it connotes the quality of the magazine, this would encourage the audience to buy the magazine as it is appealing knowing the cost of buying the magazine is worthwhile. The masthead is also interpreted by customers as the logo making the magazine more popular.
• I have done extra research on other various magazines to give me more of a idea about the different mastheads used in popular Indie magazines. On successful magazines the masthead is almost alike the convention of a screamer in that it draws much attention from the font, size and boldness of the magazine. For example Kerrang, the actual word does not have any relation to the Indie genre however the format makes it very attractive to the customers eye which may be why the magazine is popular and distributes to a global market.

·     I could use a popular track from an indie artist as my masthead, this would influence the target audience to buy the magazine as they would recognise the name therefore make them feel intrigued read it. For example I could use the title "what you know" by two door cinema club, this masthead is very intriguing to the typical indie fans. Also this phrase contains "you" which may make the customer feel the magazine is personally directed at them.

      -Lead could be an effective masthead as it has reference to my genre as many Indie bands have lead guitarists ect. Also this title implies that my magazine is ahead of all other and the best magazine for this genre of music.

      -Alike the ideology of using this name for my masthead I could use base, chord, tab, riff ect. Also Fret is the name of part of a guitar; I could use this for my masthead as it implies different meanings to the audience and could imply that again this magazine is better than its competitors and should be seen as a literal threat.

  

   - As previously stated the format of the masthead and layout on the splash is more important than the title name itself. I must make my title eye-catching for the audience therefore it must be bold have a contrasting colour to the background image so it stands out. I used Photoshop to create different effects which may be useful on my overall magazine cover.

       -I also researched different fonts used on established magazine covers with the Indie genre; this allowed me to find out which mastheads are successful and exiting. NME uses borders aligned outside the text making it stand out, I really like this effect as it allows the colour scheme to link with the masthead. The magazine Spin uses a plain box effect around the text to give the masthead importance on the page. The Stool Pigeon magazine has a banner headline on their splash with all the cover lines presented directly underneath, the font is very traditional and old fashioned, I do not think this style will fit in with the genre of my magazine.

This masthead draft consists of the typical indie theme colours; red and black however the silver glittery outline gives the title a immature feel which i would expect for a children's magazine with a much younger target audience.  The dominant red connotes the rebellious attitude of the magazine which was my initial intention. I do like the idea of using a black shadow as it makes the masthead more bold and eye catching however If I decide to use this affect I will use a different colour.

  

  

I really like the effect used on this masthead as it connotes the magazine has star quality and is well established which would attract customers as it makes them feel they have importance in reading this magazine. I think I may use this effect on my music magazine as it would follow the theme I want to use however I think I need to make it more bold using a different format or other effects on Photoshop so it is more eye-catching to the target audience. I would like to use a backdrop shadow around the title also (from previous research) using both effects may make the title look messy and confuse the reader with mixed messages connoted.  

  

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•       I think it is important to use lots of different fonts on not only my front cover but throughout my magazine to give it variety. I will now explore the different font sizes, colour and size to establish which title images would work best on my magazine. On my front cover I will use a simple, effective bold font as my masthead so the page doesn't look confused, the audience will immediately see the masthead anyway as it conventionally correct.I will use other fonts to highlight important articles on all my front cover, contents page and double page spread. As part of extra research into the fonts available for me to use on my magazine I  found the following website (http://www.dafont.com) This website was very useful in giving me ideas on the different fonts I could use which simply itself could connote certain aspects of the magazine and genre.
•       Here are some examples of the fonts available on Photoshop which I am likely to be using throughout my magazine. (I am trying out the fonts using my masthead although I will be using these formats for other text on my actual drafts ect)

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Influencial Media Texts

This music magazine has specifically influenced my own magazine layout and the clear conventions used. The magazine does follow a different house style and genre to my own however the actual layout of items on the page are well thought out