To the examiner,
I hope you have enjoyed reading all my posts throughout the process of creating and developing my magazine. Each post is labelled and can be viewed via selecting the link from the list on the Blog Archive. I have thoroughly enjoyed the AS Media course and have worked very hard with the task to complete my final product.
Thankyou
Wednesday 7 May 2014
Friday 11 April 2014
Thursday 10 April 2014
Final Evaluation Question 6
6. What have you learnt about technologies form the process of constructing this product?
I used various forms of editing technology/software:
Computer and iMac
While constructing my media product, i often was working on the computers or the iMac's in school during lesson time and study periods. At home i worked on the project using my Windows Laptop, despite my laptop not having all the required software i did what i could after school hours. I preferred working on the task using computers at school as this was a place where i was extremely motivated and had access to all required software and better quality hardware, particularly on the iMacs. I used my free study periods and lesson time effectively, ensuring i was working on the project and getting all the work done.
I also used many forms of presentation software during the process of constructing my magazine:
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I used various forms of editing technology/software:
While constructing my media product, i often was working on the computers or the iMac's in school during lesson time and study periods. At home i worked on the project using my Windows Laptop, despite my laptop not having all the required software i did what i could after school hours. I preferred working on the task using computers at school as this was a place where i was extremely motivated and had access to all required software and better quality hardware, particularly on the iMacs. I used my free study periods and lesson time effectively, ensuring i was working on the project and getting all the work done.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended
This is the software used to construct and edit my magazine on the school computers, as i do not have this software at home installed on my laptop. At the start of the project when using Photoshop for the first time working on the preliminary task, i was not a confident user and only knew the basics of how to operate the software. After lots of practice, i developed my skills using this software which allowed me to use it to my advantage and create a good quality final product through editing and attention to detail relating to the design.
Microsoft Word 2010
I used this software to create my article which i featured on my double page spread inside the magazine. This enabled me to check for any spelling errors, monitor my word count, structure appropriately and make any necessary alterations before inserting the article into Photoshop where i was creating my double page spread. This ensured my double page spread was professional and avoided any mistakes.
I also used many forms of presentation software during the process of constructing my magazine:
Blogger
I used Blogger frequently throughout the task of constructing my magazine. All stages were 'blogged' to provide evidence of completing and justifying ideas etc. This was how all my work was presented. My blog shows the process from start to finish. Before i was involved in this media course i hadn't previously Blogger, but after using it regularly i became more familiar with its functions and how to use it effectively in presenting my work including research, drafts, feedback, weekly targets, final product and evaluation.
Animoto
I used this video creator for my 25 word pitch during the early stages of the task as part of my research and to give insight into the direction I aimed to take with my media product. This was an effective way to get the message across and viewers were able to engage with the animations and images which did not require much explanatory. Previous to this,
I had never used Animoto however I found it very easy to use and a good way of presenting work in an appealing and interesting manor.
Flickr
After taking both test shots and a second shoot for the final product images after doing research to gain ideas of what I wanted to achieve, I uploaded some of my favourites
on to Flickr, creating a 'feed' which I embedded into a blog post, allowing others to visit my blog and view these images easily and in high definition.
on to Flickr, creating a 'feed' which I embedded into a blog post, allowing others to visit my blog and view these images easily and in high definition.
Scribd
During the research stages involved in the coursework, I used Scribd as a different form of presenting my work; I was able to upload Word, Publisher and PowerPoint documents onto this software and present it in a more professional way than a standard post on Blogger. I researched and analysed pre-existing magazines and posted this onto my blog by using the embed code for this particular Slideshare document, creating media variety on my blog and different ways of presentation.
SoundCloud
I used this when creating an 'Inspirational Playlist' for my chosen genre of hip hop and posted it onto my blog through embedding; this is a different way of presenting work using a different form of media, perhaps something more interesting than a standard blog post. I knew how to use this before coming to create this playlist as I already had my own account and used it regularly for streaming music, therefore I was confident in using this and had no issues.
For the research involved in the task i used technologies including:
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Practical hardware used included:
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For the research involved in the task i used technologies including:
Internet Explorer/ Google Chrome
The internet was essential for my research. This system enabled me to find out about pre-existing magazines, collect images, access various software's (mentioned above), access information throughout the process, developing ideas and finding inspiration from various sources online allowing me to create a good quality final product.
Survey Monkey
I created an online questionnaire using Survey Monkey as I thought it would be useful to gain insight into the pubic and audiences. I asked relevant questions to ensure I gained useful feedback from peers after embedding and posting onto my blog for others to see and proceed to complete the survey. I had never used this before but found it easy to use and a good way of finding out about your audience quickly and
easily.
easily.
Practical hardware used included:
Nikon D30200
This was a camera owned by the media department of my school, I decided to use this rather than my personal camera as it is of better quality and more credible, capturing images in high definition. I used this for all images featured on all pages: cover, contents and double page spread. As this camera was not my own, I had never used it before and was not familiar with all it's functions so during the test shots I was unable to use the camera's specialist features to my advantage- achieving images of a respectable standard but I felt there was room for improvement in shots and angles of images. I was then more confident when using the camera for a second time in a different shoot with my models, learning skills and appropriate settings after my first attempt (zoom, angling, flash, etc.)
Artificial Lighting
I used two soft lighting boxes when photographing the models in the AVS studio at school. This created a perfect level of brightness for the images to ensure the focus was on the model and the image itself rather; without the lighting the image would appear unprofessional and unattractive to the audience as it could be seen as something 'ordinary' and 'boring'. The lighting emphasises expressions and contributes towards achieving a flawless image.
Tri-pod
This was used to stand the camera on when photographing models in the photography stages, it stabilised the camera and allowed a level position achieving a professional and well balanced looking image. Without this piece of equipment, images may have appeared unprofessional and disorientating for the reader as angles and shots would not be on one level and appear unattractive as a result.
White screen back ground
A professional look was created through the use of this piece of equipment as the screen was placed behind the models, achieving a simplistic look and avoiding the appearance of untidy mise-en-scene shown in the shot. This is regularly used by magazines as it is attractive and ensures the audience's attention is drawn to the important contentions of the magazine such as cover lines, image and masthead. This allowed images to be featured effectively on the page and other aspects of the magazine stand out appealing to the audience and encouraging interest and sales.
Wednesday 9 April 2014
Tuesday 8 April 2014
Monday 7 April 2014
Sunday 6 April 2014
Saturday 5 April 2014
Friday 4 April 2014
Draft question 1
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I used a range of Hip Hop magazines as inspiration when creating my final product, such as XXL, The Source and Complex. I took ideas from these magazines which each use, develop and challenge typical convention forms in some way, depending on the specific issue. I chose to adopt a variety of the ideas from the pre-existing magazines as they successfully appealed to the target audience and represented the genre of hip hop effectively. Inspiration from the cover. My inspiration for the cover came from the idea of doing something which would stand out on the magazine racks through its innovative style which challenges the typical conventions of a music magazine (usually simple and minimalist.)
When producing my final version of the contents page I based the design and layout around the successful, pre-existing magazines including Vibe, The Source and XXL. I liked the effect that the statement, simple images had and gained ideas from the conventions including the text style and layout. I looked at the placement of text and the image on the page; I noticed that most of the hip hop magazine contents pages I analysed took the approach of using a single image to create a bigger impact on the audience.
MASTHEAD
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I used font 'Bebas' on the masthead of my magazine, ensuring that using this I would make a statement and stand out, aesthetically appeal to the target audience and fit in with the hip hop genre and design of the cover. As well as this I also had to make sure the audience were able to read the masthead and be able to clearly identify the magazine-allowing stronger branding. This is something which also is considered with real media products as they need to enable the product to be recognisable and successful. The font used for the masthead is very similar to XXL using sharp, chunky capital lettering which is clearly readable and is consistent to a professional look. This is just one way in which I have used the conventions of a pre-existing magazine. Also, I felt that I needed a basic style of font for the masthead to ensure the main focus is on the cover image and cover lines as this is what is most likely to draw the audience in and encourage the sales of the magazine through being appealing and interesting as well as not wanting to suggest anything about the content of the magazine in the masthead as I feel the cover will speak for itself, like on the majority of XXL, Complex and The Source issues. I do not feel the audience should make assumptions on the magazine itself purely based on the masthead and it's design. My thoughts when designing were that this masthead would stand out amongst the typical, basic magazines as it is bolder and would catch the eyes of the audience. I chose to use the conventions taken by XXL for the masthead, using red and white as the colour scheme (white text contrasting and clearly readable on the red background of the masthead). The colour combination works well and attracts the audience as its eye catching and bright with the bold text inside. The red square box makes the cover appear neat and professional, therefore I used this idea, taken from XXL on my magazine cover and chose to keep it consistent by using it also on the contents page to ensure the reader is always aware of the magazine they are reading, increasing brand awareness and strengthening.
I decided to alternate the convention of the barcode placement on the cover; XXL and many other music magazines such as The Source, VIBE and I-D place the barcode, on most issues, at the bottom of the cover, where as I challenged this typical convention by placing it in the space on the top right as I felt this is more appropriate due to their already being a lot to look at the bottom of the page (text.) However this alteration is not unheard of on real media products as examples from i-D and Clash, etc. have also used this idea, so it could also be said that I have used the conventions of a real media product through the barcode placement. The size of the barcode challenged typical real media products as it was larger than the average barcode; the idea for the long barcode came from XXL as I liked the style and I felt that it was necessary to fill the blank space in this area.
Graphology/ Page Layout
After looking at many examples, I aimed to give the reader's a lot to think about on the page through thought provoking text and images, therefore I did not feel a basic, typical layout was appropriate for the cover of a magazine of the hip-hop genre; however I also researched many contents pages of style model magazines (such as The Source and XXL) which gave me the idea to use a simple layout and allow a statement image to add detail
In terms of layout and structure, I feel I took a simplistic approach; this is also taken by many pre-existing music magazines such as I-D and Clash typically. I liked how the layout creates continuity on every page and can adapt to suit any specific topic as it is not suggestive.
Bebas font, featured on the masthead is kept consistent through its use on every page, including the contents page where it is used for the numbering and the page number of the contents page itself; as well as being prominent in the double page spread to format the large, central title/heading 'Paradox',the pull quote, page numbers and for the details of the author and photographer on the double page spread. Use of Bebas on every page creates consistency and gives a unified theme to the magazine as a whole. The maintained consistency makes the magazine seem well constructed as it fits well together, each page following on to the next with a continuous colour theme throughout, creating high levels of continuity.
On the cover, the text which lists names of pre-existing and successful hip-hop artists/groups is formatted in New Press Eroded font; this appears edgy and stylish, reflecting 'hardness' to create an urban feel. This works well alongside the Bebas font which is also featured on the cover to format the masthead text and cover lines. Everything works well together, creating the intended image to represent intended themes within the magazine.
Coolvetica font was used for the issue number and issue date, printed on the barcode section of the magazine, this also works with the other fonts to ensure it does not look out of place. This font was also used to format the text on the bar headers on the contents page, suitable and consistent.
Raavi is a clear, rounded and basic font which i chose to format the text of the article with as it contributes towards the urban, edgy feel which was intended on the magazine. The font allows the text to look 'blocky' and bold; it would entice the reader to read the text as the style and structure is something different from the norm- seeming interesting and innovative.
The simple un-suggestive font types all appear professional and work well together. They allow easy reading as all lettering is clear and appropriate for a magazine form of media.
A variation of a high and low language register is used appropriately to engage the target audience effectively.
All images are conventional for a typical mainstream hip-hop magazine, based on research conducted on style models such as The Source, XXL, Complex and VIBE.
ARTIST PROFILE/ IMAGE CONVENTIONS
My artists represent the genre of hip hop successfully; the artists profile I went for was around the late teens mark for a male and female duo. This is a typical age for artists of this genre to be starting out and finding success. In the mise en scene, I chose to keep the clothing basic; following a black and white colour scheme to ensure the images do not appear out of place on the page. A colour theme running through Base Junkie is quite clearly black, white and red. The cover image displays the artists, Drizzy J, wearing a basic black hoodie; conforming to the stereotypical image of hip-hop followers as they are very relaxed in their attire and express mood through baggy garments etc. Another reason why I choose the black hoodie was to allow the reader to clearly read the cover lines as this is another aspect which would grab attention and interest the target audience; the white text over the black contrasts well and avoids any confusion as it is easy to read and stands out effectively. A small amount of gold jewelry (a gold chain and bracelet) was also a part of the costume and featured on the artists in both the contents and the double page spread to create an image of a typical hip hop artist profile as, often, 'bling' is shown off to represent success and wealth. Styling of the female, known as Khira Leigh, was inspired by passionate hip hop solo female artist: Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora as they are suited to this genre and express personality and attitude through their image. This is something I wanted to mirror during the photography stage of the task. research and planning was very useful for this as I was able to develop ideas and analyse real media products to see what works well.
Body language and expressions where very important to set mood and interest among the target audience as well as reflecting the theme of hip hop and culture throughout.
I decided to use images of the male artists out of the duo on every page to present him as a dominant, leader figure; conforming to views of hip-hop culture which usually see a male figure as powerful. This is an approach often taken by pre-exsiting magazines, including Q which features Alex Turner from The Artic Monkey's on the front cover rather than all four members as well as NME featuring Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistols.
A reason for only featuring one member of a group on some of the pages may be due to the fact that it may make them appear overcrowded and unappealing; if I had both members on the cover as well as using the background text listing popular hip-hop artists- there is already a lot of detail on the cover. However I wanted to ensure the audience are aware the Paradox is a band, which was my reasoning behind featuring both members, Drizzy J and Khira Leigh, on the contents page and to include variety within the magazine as the double spread and the cover use images which only capture the male; this could seem repetitive and predictable, something which I aim to avoid given the diverse nature of my chosen genre, which is of course mainstream hip hop.
Double spread page images are representative of the hip hop genre. The centre image of Drizzy J shows him making a gesture with his fingers, which could be interpreted in many ways and seen as inappropriate for many magazines of various genres such as indie, etc. and would therefore be unlikely to be featured in pre-existing models like I-D, Wonderland or Clash. The simplistic designs of these style models feature traditional and modern conventions, which I have slightly geared away from and challenged as this not entirely suited to my chosen style of music representation, as found during the research of real media texts related to hip hop. I went with this image for the final version of the double page spread as it reflects attitude and creates a mood for not only the article but also for the magazine as a whole.
The idea to use three different images with varying opacity on the double page spread was based on and inspired by an example from VIBE. I decided on a branded t-shirt for the artist to wear on the image featured on the double page spread as this was something used by the VIBE example, which uses a 'TDE' branded hoodie, as well as the fact It works well with the high status theme among hip hop artists. Despite this, the logo does not appear overpowering in affect to the rest of the double page spread as there is a lot to look at and this is not a main feature, I purposefully did this to ensure the image does not seem as though it is being used for advertisement purposes as I feel this adds a commercial tag on something which is meaningful.
Reader attention is drawn to the image through the unusual design and layout, challenging typical conventions of real media products. The article was layed out on the right side of the page, creating a block of text which is eye catching and attractive. I used Spin's example featuring Kid Cudi as a guideline when designing my double page spread as I wanted to achieve a similar result using the conventions of this page. The large, high quality images put together and placed effectively on the left page would draw attention and interest of the reader as it is appealing and makes a statement on the page due to the contrast with the fairly simplistic design of the right page (next to it.) I also used a pull quote, drop capital, page numbers, an author and photographer description and left aligned text; these are all conventions widely used in many real media products as they are not suggestive of a particular text type or subject and are used to attract the reader to the page.
Thursday 3 April 2014
Draft evaluation 2
2. How does your media product represent popular social groups?
My duo group, Paradox, made up of male artist Drizzy J and female member Khira Leigh, represent urban groups due to the pair being brought up in the urban environment of East London, being exposed to violence and gang culture when growing up on their estate. These bad early life experiences are mentioned in the article and allow the urban, rough audiences to relate to. Although this group is typically associated with boys/males who deal with drugs and have no ambitions in life, this is not represented by the duo as the article shows how they turned their lives around to become very successful.
My media product may also represent a mainstream group through branding of the clothes popular and commonly worn by many fashion conscious individuals. The branded t-shirt worn by Drizzy J on the double page spread as well as the G-shock watch also featured in the mise en scene are items which would be known to many. Therefore mainstream groups are represented within Bass Junkie through costume mainly.
Styler groups are represented through my media product; they have a love for partying and are image conscious. UK Tribes quoted: "Sharing an urban upbringing, they’re a diverse bunch, ranging from GCSE students to young professionals." This is the target audience for my magazine and therefore this groups is represented.Keeping up with appearance is a key feature of this group, as a result i feel is was important to feature an up to date, modern and stylish artist inside Bass Junkie to ensure the ideal reader would be interested and find the content appealing.
Male and female were represented in my print media to appeal effectively to the target audience. I chose to aim the magazine at both genders aged between 16-24 as I feel they would be the group having the most interest in music, culture and reading magazines themselves. I mentioned in the article the ages of the artists: Khira-Leigh being 19 and Drizzy J aged 21. The model ages were included within this group to encourage sales from the target audience as they would have interest in people of a similar age and would find their stories inspiring as a pose to an artist(s) who is outside of the intended audience age range as they would not be so relevant and relatable to the ideal reader and therefore less appealing. The age of the artists is typical for staring out in the music industry and would create a more interesting article to read.
Images used within my media product combined with styling and photography use represent style as well as attitude; strong expression is presented through strong and powerful poses (particularly on the double page spread images). Through my research on photographers and looking at example style models related to my genre, I was inspired to use a wide range of shots and angles, following conventions taken by pre-existing print media types regularly.
Wednesday 2 April 2014
Draft 3
3. What kind of Media Institution might distribute your media product and why?
"We have more than eighty influential media brands, spanning a wide range of interests, including heat, GRAZIA, Closer, MCN, FHM, Parkers, MATCH, Magic 105.4, Kiss 100, Kerrang and 4Music. Our business is built on millions of personal relationships with engaged audiences.
We connect people and communities with compelling and quality content, whenever, wherever and however they want."
I feel the best institution to distribute my magazine would be Bauer Media Group. They already have a large portfolio which is made up of many credible print media brands such as Q and Kerrang magazine; despite these being of a different genre and opposite styles to Base Junkie, I feel this provides a gap in the market for a hip hop magazine such as my own to become successful through effective distribution by this company. Due to their being no similar products to my magazine being distributed y Bauer currently, I feel this is an advantage as it develops the media range and is not similar to other models of print media, presenting originality and broader ranges. I feel Bauer Media Group would be a good distributer for my magazine and be beneficial through its distribution networks and systems spreading all over Europe, allowing a broader audience than intended as my magazine can be marketed in a range of areas, appealing to wider audiences and potentially attracting them and positively impacting sales. Bauer also own a radio station broadcasting music nationally, showing the group have knowledge of music and genre's which would enable them to have understand and be able to distribute Bass Junkie effectively despite it being of a genre which differs from the current brands being distributed by them.
As well as Bauer Radio the group also have a 50% stake in British television; channels are all music related, examples include: 4music, The Box, Smash Hits, etc. This provides further evidence supporting that Bauer have clear expertise within the music industry which would be useful for the company I wish to distribute my product to have knowledge on as they can reflect this in effective, appealing and engaging market campaigns and distribution to stores and customers. This level of expertise would enable me to price Bass Junkie at £3.99 (a relatively high end price for most monthly music magazines) as they would ensure good quality and high standard distribution in a way that would influence the audience's decisions to purchase.
The extensive media sources which Bauer are largely involved with provide me with the potential to expand into different markets and broaden my target audience as my media product could develop into a success through the radio station and television advertisements, etc.
Q and Kerrang are the only two print media types being distributed by this group at present, it gives me the opportunity to fill the gap in the market. As there are no hip hop magazines being distributed by Bauer Media and in the UK at this time, my genre could be interpreted as a relatively niche one which has a limited UK audience- this is something which has the ability to change if distributed by this company as it would raise audience awareness and interest potentially. (Hip hop is a loved and extremely popular/successful genre in America.) This may create further success for the Bauer media group as Bass Junkie becomes a recognised, credible and successful brand of magazine. Large readership is generated by the group through the effective circulation worldwide.
I would wish for distribution to be carried out in the original way: displayed and stacked on magazine shelves inside stores, offering the option of postage for customers subscribed to the magazine. Also, as technology is becoming increasingly advanced and used by the population on a regular basis, I feel an effective way of distributing the magazine and engaging with customers would be to distribute online as well as designing a Bass Junkie app downloadable on smartphones for the target audience to use to their advantage and easily access at the touch of a button. The target may like online distribution as they would be familiar on how to use the modern day technologies and find this method more easily accessible. Related to media consumption of target audience (UK Tribes.)
Product placement within my magazine would be based around my research carried out on the target audience (audience profile and audience research) as well as target audience trends and identification research on UK Tribes. Brands/ fashion labels and artists/bands that feature in my audience research would allow me to gain ideas of what types of products are most appropriate and appealing to the target audience to feature inside Bass Junkie. For example, information related to Drake and/or Iggy Azalea (such as upcoming tour dates or new album releases, etc.) would be suitable to appear inside the magazine as the two example members of my target audience included these hip hop styled artists as their favourites, interesting and appealing to them as a result of featuring the artists within an issue. Also, clothing brands such as Obey, TDE, Dope Chef etc. would be relevant and suitable inside my magazine- whether it is worn by a model/ artist or displayed entirely for advertisement purposes as these are classed as mainstream and therefore would fit in with the genre and themes. Using well known and loved brands would help promote the magazine to the target audience, due to being a new released magazine in the print media market, it would therefore encourage sales and increase revenue and success for Bass Junkie in the future leading to success.
"We have more than eighty influential media brands, spanning a wide range of interests, including heat, GRAZIA, Closer, MCN, FHM, Parkers, MATCH, Magic 105.4, Kiss 100, Kerrang and 4Music. Our business is built on millions of personal relationships with engaged audiences.
We connect people and communities with compelling and quality content, whenever, wherever and however they want."
I feel the best institution to distribute my magazine would be Bauer Media Group. They already have a large portfolio which is made up of many credible print media brands such as Q and Kerrang magazine; despite these being of a different genre and opposite styles to Base Junkie, I feel this provides a gap in the market for a hip hop magazine such as my own to become successful through effective distribution by this company. Due to their being no similar products to my magazine being distributed y Bauer currently, I feel this is an advantage as it develops the media range and is not similar to other models of print media, presenting originality and broader ranges. I feel Bauer Media Group would be a good distributer for my magazine and be beneficial through its distribution networks and systems spreading all over Europe, allowing a broader audience than intended as my magazine can be marketed in a range of areas, appealing to wider audiences and potentially attracting them and positively impacting sales. Bauer also own a radio station broadcasting music nationally, showing the group have knowledge of music and genre's which would enable them to have understand and be able to distribute Bass Junkie effectively despite it being of a genre which differs from the current brands being distributed by them.
As well as Bauer Radio the group also have a 50% stake in British television; channels are all music related, examples include: 4music, The Box, Smash Hits, etc. This provides further evidence supporting that Bauer have clear expertise within the music industry which would be useful for the company I wish to distribute my product to have knowledge on as they can reflect this in effective, appealing and engaging market campaigns and distribution to stores and customers. This level of expertise would enable me to price Bass Junkie at £3.99 (a relatively high end price for most monthly music magazines) as they would ensure good quality and high standard distribution in a way that would influence the audience's decisions to purchase.
The extensive media sources which Bauer are largely involved with provide me with the potential to expand into different markets and broaden my target audience as my media product could develop into a success through the radio station and television advertisements, etc.
Q and Kerrang are the only two print media types being distributed by this group at present, it gives me the opportunity to fill the gap in the market. As there are no hip hop magazines being distributed by Bauer Media and in the UK at this time, my genre could be interpreted as a relatively niche one which has a limited UK audience- this is something which has the ability to change if distributed by this company as it would raise audience awareness and interest potentially. (Hip hop is a loved and extremely popular/successful genre in America.) This may create further success for the Bauer media group as Bass Junkie becomes a recognised, credible and successful brand of magazine. Large readership is generated by the group through the effective circulation worldwide.
I would wish for distribution to be carried out in the original way: displayed and stacked on magazine shelves inside stores, offering the option of postage for customers subscribed to the magazine. Also, as technology is becoming increasingly advanced and used by the population on a regular basis, I feel an effective way of distributing the magazine and engaging with customers would be to distribute online as well as designing a Bass Junkie app downloadable on smartphones for the target audience to use to their advantage and easily access at the touch of a button. The target may like online distribution as they would be familiar on how to use the modern day technologies and find this method more easily accessible. Related to media consumption of target audience (UK Tribes.)
Product placement within my magazine would be based around my research carried out on the target audience (audience profile and audience research) as well as target audience trends and identification research on UK Tribes. Brands/ fashion labels and artists/bands that feature in my audience research would allow me to gain ideas of what types of products are most appropriate and appealing to the target audience to feature inside Bass Junkie. For example, information related to Drake and/or Iggy Azalea (such as upcoming tour dates or new album releases, etc.) would be suitable to appear inside the magazine as the two example members of my target audience included these hip hop styled artists as their favourites, interesting and appealing to them as a result of featuring the artists within an issue. Also, clothing brands such as Obey, TDE, Dope Chef etc. would be relevant and suitable inside my magazine- whether it is worn by a model/ artist or displayed entirely for advertisement purposes as these are classed as mainstream and therefore would fit in with the genre and themes. Using well known and loved brands would help promote the magazine to the target audience, due to being a new released magazine in the print media market, it would therefore encourage sales and increase revenue and success for Bass Junkie in the future leading to success.
Draft 4
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
The audience for my magazine would be young males and females aged 16-24 who have an interest in trending and upcoming mainstream hip-hop, R&B genre music as well as youth culture. The audience would be passionate about styling and enjoy showing off popular branded items. As my magazine is aimed at middle/upper class people, I felt the magazine should come at a respectable price of £3.99; my research on the target audience and with the age range, it is expected that the intended reader may not have a large amount of disposable income due to possibly having a part time/starting out job, therefore I did not want to price Base Junkie much higher than this as I felt the target audience would be happy to pay this amount as It seems fair and for the high quality magazine with lots of content, the price provides good value for money. The audience I am aiming Base Junkie at would be mainstream in terms of their style through brands as well as through the popular type of hip-hop music being the one they prefer rather than contemporary, etc. There is a clear market for my magazine as pre-existing hip-hop magazines focus widely on already well established and known artists where as I aimed for Base Junkie to largely feature the trending artists of this genre as well as recognition of new/upcoming artists who are starting out and would be potential artists who are 'the ones to watch' in the industry. The audience would enjoy a magazine of this type as many would be radio 1 listeners which broadcasts both trending and new artists therefore the magazine also reflects this aspect. The audience may also listen to Radio stations such as Radio 1 extra as this plays many hip-hop and R&B artists which would interest the audience and Capital FM as this station is very mainstream. Hip Hop is a respected music genre which is becoming increasingly popular, audiences who are of no particular ethnicity are growing and making the music successful as ever. Readers would be interested in artists and bands within this specific music genre such as: Jay Z, N-Dubz, Kanye West, Drake and Kid Ink, etc. These are included in the successful and loved artists which I have featured on the cover of Base Junkie to create mood, stand out and would appeal to my target audience mainstream music taste. Due to the nature of the age group, the audience would be passionate about fashion and youth culture. These are themes presented through my media product, despite being primarily based on music of the hip hop genre, I relied fashion and styling as well as expression and attitude to attract the audience to purchasing a copy of Issue 93 of Base Junkie.
The audience for my magazine would be young males and females aged 16-24 who have an interest in trending and upcoming mainstream hip-hop, R&B genre music as well as youth culture. The audience would be passionate about styling and enjoy showing off popular branded items. As my magazine is aimed at middle/upper class people, I felt the magazine should come at a respectable price of £3.99; my research on the target audience and with the age range, it is expected that the intended reader may not have a large amount of disposable income due to possibly having a part time/starting out job, therefore I did not want to price Base Junkie much higher than this as I felt the target audience would be happy to pay this amount as It seems fair and for the high quality magazine with lots of content, the price provides good value for money. The audience I am aiming Base Junkie at would be mainstream in terms of their style through brands as well as through the popular type of hip-hop music being the one they prefer rather than contemporary, etc. There is a clear market for my magazine as pre-existing hip-hop magazines focus widely on already well established and known artists where as I aimed for Base Junkie to largely feature the trending artists of this genre as well as recognition of new/upcoming artists who are starting out and would be potential artists who are 'the ones to watch' in the industry. The audience would enjoy a magazine of this type as many would be radio 1 listeners which broadcasts both trending and new artists therefore the magazine also reflects this aspect. The audience may also listen to Radio stations such as Radio 1 extra as this plays many hip-hop and R&B artists which would interest the audience and Capital FM as this station is very mainstream. Hip Hop is a respected music genre which is becoming increasingly popular, audiences who are of no particular ethnicity are growing and making the music successful as ever. Readers would be interested in artists and bands within this specific music genre such as: Jay Z, N-Dubz, Kanye West, Drake and Kid Ink, etc. These are included in the successful and loved artists which I have featured on the cover of Base Junkie to create mood, stand out and would appeal to my target audience mainstream music taste. Due to the nature of the age group, the audience would be passionate about fashion and youth culture. These are themes presented through my media product, despite being primarily based on music of the hip hop genre, I relied fashion and styling as well as expression and attitude to attract the audience to purchasing a copy of Issue 93 of Base Junkie.
The audience for my magazine would be young males and females aged 16-24 who have an interest in trending and upcoming mainstream hip-hop, R&B genre music as well as youth culture. The audience would be passionate about styling and enjoy showing off popular branded items. As my magazine is aimed at middle/upper class people, I felt the magazine should come at a respectable price of £3.99; my research on the target audience and with the age range, it is expected that the intended reader may not have a large amount of disposable income due to possibly having a part time/starting out job, therefore I did not want to price Base Junkie much higher than this as I felt the target audience would be happy to pay this amount as It seems fair and for the high quality magazine with lots of content, the price provides good value for money. The audience I am aiming Base Junkie at would be mainstream in terms of their style through brands as well as through the popular type of hip-hop music being the one they prefer rather than contemporary, etc. There is a clear market for my magazine as pre-existing hip-hop magazines focus widely on already well established and known artists where as I aimed for Base Junkie to largely feature the trending artists of this genre as well as recognition of new/upcoming artists who are starting out and would be potential artists who are 'the ones to watch' in the industry. The audience would enjoy a magazine of this type as many would be radio 1 listeners which broadcasts both trending and new artists therefore the magazine also reflects this aspect. The audience may also listen to Radio stations such as Radio 1 extra as this plays many hip-hop and R&B artists which would interest the audience and Capital FM as this station is very mainstream. Hip Hop is a respected music genre which is becoming increasingly popular, audiences who are of no particular ethnicity are growing and making the music successful as ever. Readers would be interested in artists and bands within this specific music genre such as: Jay Z, N-Dubz, Kanye West, Drake and Kid Ink, etc. These are included in the successful and loved artists which I have featured on the cover of Base Junkie to create mood, stand out and would appeal to my target audience mainstream music taste. Due to the nature of the age group, the audience would be passionate about fashion and youth culture. These are themes presented through my media product, despite being primarily based on music of the hip hop genre, I relied fashion and styling as well as expression and attitude to attract the audience to purchasing a copy of Issue 93 of Base Junkie.
The audience for my magazine would be young males and females aged 16-24 who have an interest in trending and upcoming mainstream hip-hop, R&B genre music as well as youth culture. The audience would be passionate about styling and enjoy showing off popular branded items. As my magazine is aimed at middle/upper class people, I felt the magazine should come at a respectable price of £3.99; my research on the target audience and with the age range, it is expected that the intended reader may not have a large amount of disposable income due to possibly having a part time/starting out job, therefore I did not want to price Base Junkie much higher than this as I felt the target audience would be happy to pay this amount as It seems fair and for the high quality magazine with lots of content, the price provides good value for money. The audience I am aiming Base Junkie at would be mainstream in terms of their style through brands as well as through the popular type of hip-hop music being the one they prefer rather than contemporary, etc. There is a clear market for my magazine as pre-existing hip-hop magazines focus widely on already well established and known artists where as I aimed for Base Junkie to largely feature the trending artists of this genre as well as recognition of new/upcoming artists who are starting out and would be potential artists who are 'the ones to watch' in the industry. The audience would enjoy a magazine of this type as many would be radio 1 listeners which broadcasts both trending and new artists therefore the magazine also reflects this aspect. The audience may also listen to Radio stations such as Radio 1 extra as this plays many hip-hop and R&B artists which would interest the audience and Capital FM as this station is very mainstream. Hip Hop is a respected music genre which is becoming increasingly popular, audiences who are of no particular ethnicity are growing and making the music successful as ever. Readers would be interested in artists and bands within this specific music genre such as: Jay Z, N-Dubz, Kanye West, Drake and Kid Ink, etc. These are included in the successful and loved artists which I have featured on the cover of Base Junkie to create mood, stand out and would appeal to my target audience mainstream music taste. Due to the nature of the age group, the audience would be passionate about fashion and youth culture. These are themes presented through my media product, despite being primarily based on music of the hip hop genre, I relied fashion and styling as well as expression and attitude to attract the audience to purchasing a copy of Issue 93 of Base Junkie.
Tuesday 1 April 2014
Draft 5
5. How did you attract and address your audience?
Male and female models were featured as a duo (Paradox) in my magazine, this is relevant to my target audience and models are also aged within target age range of the group. The media product i created is slightly more dominant of the male gender to represent the nature of hip hop as this is typical among the genre. (78% male target audience for XXL.) However the contents page has both the male and female artists from the duo as i wanted to appeal and cater for both audiences.
The male artist appears powerful and dominant throughout the magazine, this may inspire the audience and allow them to develop interest as this aspect would be suitable for the nature of stereotypical hip hop artists. Also, females may find the cover appealing as they may like the look of cover model and engage with the artist as he was captured looking directly into the camera, giving off a personal feel and potentially forming a relationship with the audience.
Including the female model on the contents page may attract and conform to Marjorie Ferguson's male gaze theory which is appropriate to the target audience age range as boys within this would be known to be developing/having lots of interest in females.
When on the shelve in a shop, masthead and image would be noticed firs and attract the audience. The masthead features contrasting, bright colours which stand out on the rest of the page which is kept to the simple colour scheme of black, white and grey; this is appealing and would be noticeable through its placement at the top of the cover page, to the left hand side. The font used (Bebas) is bold, sharp and clear, keeping the audience interested as they would be keen to find out more about the content of Base Junkie due to the vague font which does creates mood. Readers can develop brand recognition through the masthead and tagline (The Bible of Hip-Hop, Youth and Urban culture) being unchanged on every issue published and the magazine itself as its style is unique and edgy. I used a font style similar to XXL, Vibe and The Source in the way that it appears bold and chunky; these style models publish every issue with their branded, stylish and unique masthead which would allow the print media to stand out on the shelves and attract the audience as a result. The bulky lettering adds to the urban and edgy feel of my media product and is hard to miss, therefore attracting audiences, grabbing attention to the cover. The examples of pre-existing magazines I mentioned previously have target audiences which overlap in ways with mine and have similarities; XXL have a target audience age range of 18-44, i feel this is very broad and not necessary for Base Junkie as fashion and youth culture are strong and continuous themes which are more suited to a younger audience- hence my choice of 16-24 year old target audience age range. Despite this it does target ales and females, although at a male focused ratio of 78% male 22% female, each gender is catered for.
I used a series of conventions which the audience would be used to/ attracted to to gain the attention of my audience. After research on successful pre-existing magazines of a hip hop genre, i adapted the conventions used and made them unique on my media product through changing cover layouts, fonts, etc. to get a professional final product. As the style of the examples looked at are successful and popular among hip hop followers, i felt this was an appropriate direction to take as there was evidence of audience attraction.
Picking up the correct colour scheme was an important aspect of attracting the audience as they would make assumptions and base decisions around the appearance of the cover, possibly comparing my magazine to others on the shelve along side it. Therefore i ensured i followed a colour scheme (black white, grey and red) to create consistency and a professional design on the cover, contents and double page spread
Another way i addressed the audience is through the language used. After researching contents pages from XXL and Vibe, i gained ideas of how to engage with the reader; this led to my decision to include colloquial language and sayings taken by youths (real talk,etc.) These would be words which the ideal reader would be aware of and may use themselves, therefore the language would attract the audience of urban youths. When writing the article, i considered target ages, social brackets and themes which i intended to be carried throughout my magazine. I decided to use a more formal/ high language register frame for the article and avoided using slang/ colloquial language as this may deter the reader engaging with the meaningful content and i wanted to ensure the reader would take the artists seriously. I was aware that music magazines used a different forms of socialite to communicate effectively with the audience and i feel i achieved this to a good standard. Getting syntax and grammar correct was also important. If any spelling errors were made and published inside the article, this could deter the reader for continuing and also give the magazine a bad reputation is many notice the mistake; it is crucial for success and branding that mistakes are not made. Getting the balance of language register right was a challenge as too informal would seem humourous and lead to the reader not taking Base Junkie seriously and it would not suit the respected genre of hip hop; however too formal may be complex and difficult for the reader to understand/engage with and seem overwhelming to read. This confusion may put the audience off from purchasing a copy.
The models are dressed appropriately on each page, attracting the audience; the branded T-Shirt on the double page spread as well as the basic, casual style presented on both the cover and contents reflect the styling of my target audience; hip hop artists often take the style of baggy, casual and basic. This is something i wanted to present in my media product, however as i based my magazine around the mainstream hip hop genre, i felt it was relevant and necessary to include branded items which are associated with the majority (G-Shock Watch, etc.) I planned out outfits for each of the pages prior to the shoot to ensure i achieved correct and appealing styling which the audience would find attractive and finding out what would work well on each page. Personalities of the models are clearly brought forwards and presented boldly to the audience on each page through poses and positioning of the photographs- i designed the pages to each show something unique and different, providing variety and to ensure i keep the attention and interest of the reader on every page. Attitude is presented through the models looking directly into the camera, engaging with the audience with intriguing expressions. The female challenges stereotypes of gender as she presents a look of 'hardness' and bad attitude through her pose and expression displayed on then contents page: attracting the reader is this seems interesting and would encourage them to read on about the duo.
The contents page features a statement image of the two models looking into the camera using a mid angle shot. This grabs the audience's attention and is one of the main focus points on the page. Female artist, Khira Leigh's red lipstick stands out on the page due to the black clothing and pale skin. This is attractive as it fits in with the colour scheme. I featured clear and concise headings and brief descriptions which were all appropriately aligned and appeared professional at the same time as being useful for the reader as it gives them an idea of the content inside Base Junkie, encouraging them to read on as the description is vague and does not give much away, reader would be interested.
Male and female models were featured as a duo (Paradox) in my magazine, this is relevant to my target audience and models are also aged within target age range of the group. The media product i created is slightly more dominant of the male gender to represent the nature of hip hop as this is typical among the genre. (78% male target audience for XXL.) However the contents page has both the male and female artists from the duo as i wanted to appeal and cater for both audiences.
The male artist appears powerful and dominant throughout the magazine, this may inspire the audience and allow them to develop interest as this aspect would be suitable for the nature of stereotypical hip hop artists. Also, females may find the cover appealing as they may like the look of cover model and engage with the artist as he was captured looking directly into the camera, giving off a personal feel and potentially forming a relationship with the audience.
Including the female model on the contents page may attract and conform to Marjorie Ferguson's male gaze theory which is appropriate to the target audience age range as boys within this would be known to be developing/having lots of interest in females.
When on the shelve in a shop, masthead and image would be noticed firs and attract the audience. The masthead features contrasting, bright colours which stand out on the rest of the page which is kept to the simple colour scheme of black, white and grey; this is appealing and would be noticeable through its placement at the top of the cover page, to the left hand side. The font used (Bebas) is bold, sharp and clear, keeping the audience interested as they would be keen to find out more about the content of Base Junkie due to the vague font which does creates mood. Readers can develop brand recognition through the masthead and tagline (The Bible of Hip-Hop, Youth and Urban culture) being unchanged on every issue published and the magazine itself as its style is unique and edgy. I used a font style similar to XXL, Vibe and The Source in the way that it appears bold and chunky; these style models publish every issue with their branded, stylish and unique masthead which would allow the print media to stand out on the shelves and attract the audience as a result. The bulky lettering adds to the urban and edgy feel of my media product and is hard to miss, therefore attracting audiences, grabbing attention to the cover. The examples of pre-existing magazines I mentioned previously have target audiences which overlap in ways with mine and have similarities; XXL have a target audience age range of 18-44, i feel this is very broad and not necessary for Base Junkie as fashion and youth culture are strong and continuous themes which are more suited to a younger audience- hence my choice of 16-24 year old target audience age range. Despite this it does target ales and females, although at a male focused ratio of 78% male 22% female, each gender is catered for.
I used a series of conventions which the audience would be used to/ attracted to to gain the attention of my audience. After research on successful pre-existing magazines of a hip hop genre, i adapted the conventions used and made them unique on my media product through changing cover layouts, fonts, etc. to get a professional final product. As the style of the examples looked at are successful and popular among hip hop followers, i felt this was an appropriate direction to take as there was evidence of audience attraction.
Picking up the correct colour scheme was an important aspect of attracting the audience as they would make assumptions and base decisions around the appearance of the cover, possibly comparing my magazine to others on the shelve along side it. Therefore i ensured i followed a colour scheme (black white, grey and red) to create consistency and a professional design on the cover, contents and double page spread
Another way i addressed the audience is through the language used. After researching contents pages from XXL and Vibe, i gained ideas of how to engage with the reader; this led to my decision to include colloquial language and sayings taken by youths (real talk,etc.) These would be words which the ideal reader would be aware of and may use themselves, therefore the language would attract the audience of urban youths. When writing the article, i considered target ages, social brackets and themes which i intended to be carried throughout my magazine. I decided to use a more formal/ high language register frame for the article and avoided using slang/ colloquial language as this may deter the reader engaging with the meaningful content and i wanted to ensure the reader would take the artists seriously. I was aware that music magazines used a different forms of socialite to communicate effectively with the audience and i feel i achieved this to a good standard. Getting syntax and grammar correct was also important. If any spelling errors were made and published inside the article, this could deter the reader for continuing and also give the magazine a bad reputation is many notice the mistake; it is crucial for success and branding that mistakes are not made. Getting the balance of language register right was a challenge as too informal would seem humourous and lead to the reader not taking Base Junkie seriously and it would not suit the respected genre of hip hop; however too formal may be complex and difficult for the reader to understand/engage with and seem overwhelming to read. This confusion may put the audience off from purchasing a copy.
The models are dressed appropriately on each page, attracting the audience; the branded T-Shirt on the double page spread as well as the basic, casual style presented on both the cover and contents reflect the styling of my target audience; hip hop artists often take the style of baggy, casual and basic. This is something i wanted to present in my media product, however as i based my magazine around the mainstream hip hop genre, i felt it was relevant and necessary to include branded items which are associated with the majority (G-Shock Watch, etc.) I planned out outfits for each of the pages prior to the shoot to ensure i achieved correct and appealing styling which the audience would find attractive and finding out what would work well on each page. Personalities of the models are clearly brought forwards and presented boldly to the audience on each page through poses and positioning of the photographs- i designed the pages to each show something unique and different, providing variety and to ensure i keep the attention and interest of the reader on every page. Attitude is presented through the models looking directly into the camera, engaging with the audience with intriguing expressions. The female challenges stereotypes of gender as she presents a look of 'hardness' and bad attitude through her pose and expression displayed on then contents page: attracting the reader is this seems interesting and would encourage them to read on about the duo.
The contents page features a statement image of the two models looking into the camera using a mid angle shot. This grabs the audience's attention and is one of the main focus points on the page. Female artist, Khira Leigh's red lipstick stands out on the page due to the black clothing and pale skin. This is attractive as it fits in with the colour scheme. I featured clear and concise headings and brief descriptions which were all appropriately aligned and appeared professional at the same time as being useful for the reader as it gives them an idea of the content inside Base Junkie, encouraging them to read on as the description is vague and does not give much away, reader would be interested.
Monday 31 March 2014
Draft 6
6. What have you learnt about technologies form the process of constructing this product?
Editing technology/ software:
Computer and iMac
While constructing my media product, i often was working on the computers or the iMac's in school during lesson time and study periods. At home i worked on the project using my Windows Laptop, despite my laptop not having all the required software i did what i could after school hours. I preferred working on the task using computers at school as this was a place where i was extremely motivated and had access to all required software and better quality hardware, particularly on the iMacs. I used my free study periods and lesson time effectively, ensuring i was working on the project and getting all the work done.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended
This is the software used to construct and edit my magazine on the school computers, as i do not have this software at home installed on my laptop. At the start of the project when using Photoshop for the first time working on the preliminary task, i was not a confident user and only knew the basics of how to operate the software. After lots of practice, i developed my skills using this software which allowed me to use it to my advantage and create a good quality final product through editing and attention to detail relating to the design.
Microsoft Word 2010
I used this software to create my article which i featured on my double page spread inside the magazine. This enabled me to check for any spelling errors, monitor my word count, structure appropriately and make any necessary alterations before inserting the article into Photoshop where i was creating my double page spread. This ensured my double page spread was professional and avoided any mistakes.
Presentation Software:
Blogger
I used Blogger frequently throughout the task of constructing my magazine. All stages were 'blogged' to provide evidence of completing and justifying ideas etc. This was how all my work was presented. My blog shows the process from start to finish. Before i was involved in this media course i hadn't previously Blogger, but after using it regularly i became more familiar with its functions and how to use it effectively in presenting my work including research, drafts, feedback, weekly targets, final product and evaluation.
Animoto
I used this video creator for my 25 word pitch during the early stages of the task as part of my research and to give insight into the direction I aimed to take with my media product. This was an effective way to get the message across and viewers were able to engage with the animations and images which did not require much explanatory. Previous to this, I had never used Animoto however I found it very easy to use and a good way of presenting work in an appealing and interesting manor.
Flickr
After taking both test shots and a second shoot for the final product images after doing research to gain ideas of what I wanted to achieve, I uploaded some of my favourites on to Flickr, creating a 'feed' which I embedded into a blog post, allowing others to visit my blog and view these images easily and in high definition.
Scribd.
During the research stages involved in the coursework, I used Scribd as a different form of presenting my work; I was able to upload Word, Publisher and PowerPoint documents onto this software and present it in a more professional way than a standard post on Blogger. I researched and analysed pre-existing magazines and posted this onto my blog by using the embed code for this particular Slide share document, creating media variety on my blog and different ways of presentation.
Sound Cloud
I used this when creating an 'Inspirational Playlist' for my chosen genre of hip hop and posted it onto my blog through embedding; this is a different way of presenting work using a different form of media, perhaps something more interesting than a standard blog post. I knew how to use this before coming to create this playlist as I already had my own account and used it regularly for streaming music, therefore I was confident in using this and had no issues.
Research:
Internet Explorer/ Google Chrome
The internet was essential for my research. This system enabled me to find out about pre-existing magazines, collect images, access various software's (mentioned above), access information throughout the process, developing ideas and finding inspiration from various sources online allowing me to create a good quality final product.
Survey Monkey
I created an online questionnaire using Survey Monkey as I thought it would be useful to gain insight into the pubic and audiences. I asked relevant questions to ensure I gained useful feedback from peers after embedding and posting onto my blog for others to see and proceed to complete the survey. I had never used this before but found it easy to use and a good way of finding out about your audience quickly and easily.
Practical/ Hardware technology:
Nickon D30200
This was a camera owned by the media department of my school, I decided to use this rather than my personal camera as it is of better quality and more credible, capturing images in high definition. I used this for all images featured on all pages: cover, contents and double page spread. As this camera was not my own, I had never used it before and was not familiar with all it's functions so during the test shots I was unable to use the camera's specialist features to my advantage- achieving images of a respectable standard but I felt there was room for improvement in shots and angles of images. I was then more confident when using the camera for a second time in a different shoot with my models, learning skills and appropriate settings after my first attempt (zoom, angling, flash, etc.)
Artificial Lighting
I used two soft lighting boxes when photographing the models in the AVS studio at school. This created a perfect level of brightness for the images to ensure the focus was on the model and the image itself rather; without the lighting the image would appear unprofessional and unattractive to the audience as it could be seen as something 'ordinary' and 'boring'. The lighting emphasises expressions and contributes towards achieving a flawless image.
Tri-pod
This was used to stand the camera on when photographing models in the photography stages, it stabilised the camera and allowed a level position achieving a professional and well balanced looking image. Without this piece of equipment, images may have appeared unprofessional and disorientating for the reader as angles and shots would not be on one level and appear unattractive as a result.
White screen back ground
A professional look was created through the use of this piece of equipment as the screen was placed behind the models, achieving a simplistic look and avoiding the appearance of untidy mise-en-scene shown in the shot. This is regularly used by magazines as it is attractive and ensures the audience's attention is drawn to the important contentions of the magazine such as cover lines, image and masthead. This allowed images to be featured effectively on the page and other aspects of the magazine stand out appealing to the audience and encouraging interest and sales.
Editing technology/ software:
Computer and iMac
While constructing my media product, i often was working on the computers or the iMac's in school during lesson time and study periods. At home i worked on the project using my Windows Laptop, despite my laptop not having all the required software i did what i could after school hours. I preferred working on the task using computers at school as this was a place where i was extremely motivated and had access to all required software and better quality hardware, particularly on the iMacs. I used my free study periods and lesson time effectively, ensuring i was working on the project and getting all the work done.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended
This is the software used to construct and edit my magazine on the school computers, as i do not have this software at home installed on my laptop. At the start of the project when using Photoshop for the first time working on the preliminary task, i was not a confident user and only knew the basics of how to operate the software. After lots of practice, i developed my skills using this software which allowed me to use it to my advantage and create a good quality final product through editing and attention to detail relating to the design.
Microsoft Word 2010
I used this software to create my article which i featured on my double page spread inside the magazine. This enabled me to check for any spelling errors, monitor my word count, structure appropriately and make any necessary alterations before inserting the article into Photoshop where i was creating my double page spread. This ensured my double page spread was professional and avoided any mistakes.
Presentation Software:
Blogger
I used Blogger frequently throughout the task of constructing my magazine. All stages were 'blogged' to provide evidence of completing and justifying ideas etc. This was how all my work was presented. My blog shows the process from start to finish. Before i was involved in this media course i hadn't previously Blogger, but after using it regularly i became more familiar with its functions and how to use it effectively in presenting my work including research, drafts, feedback, weekly targets, final product and evaluation.
Animoto
I used this video creator for my 25 word pitch during the early stages of the task as part of my research and to give insight into the direction I aimed to take with my media product. This was an effective way to get the message across and viewers were able to engage with the animations and images which did not require much explanatory. Previous to this, I had never used Animoto however I found it very easy to use and a good way of presenting work in an appealing and interesting manor.
Flickr
After taking both test shots and a second shoot for the final product images after doing research to gain ideas of what I wanted to achieve, I uploaded some of my favourites on to Flickr, creating a 'feed' which I embedded into a blog post, allowing others to visit my blog and view these images easily and in high definition.
Scribd.
During the research stages involved in the coursework, I used Scribd as a different form of presenting my work; I was able to upload Word, Publisher and PowerPoint documents onto this software and present it in a more professional way than a standard post on Blogger. I researched and analysed pre-existing magazines and posted this onto my blog by using the embed code for this particular Slide share document, creating media variety on my blog and different ways of presentation.
Sound Cloud
I used this when creating an 'Inspirational Playlist' for my chosen genre of hip hop and posted it onto my blog through embedding; this is a different way of presenting work using a different form of media, perhaps something more interesting than a standard blog post. I knew how to use this before coming to create this playlist as I already had my own account and used it regularly for streaming music, therefore I was confident in using this and had no issues.
Research:
Internet Explorer/ Google Chrome
The internet was essential for my research. This system enabled me to find out about pre-existing magazines, collect images, access various software's (mentioned above), access information throughout the process, developing ideas and finding inspiration from various sources online allowing me to create a good quality final product.
Survey Monkey
I created an online questionnaire using Survey Monkey as I thought it would be useful to gain insight into the pubic and audiences. I asked relevant questions to ensure I gained useful feedback from peers after embedding and posting onto my blog for others to see and proceed to complete the survey. I had never used this before but found it easy to use and a good way of finding out about your audience quickly and easily.
Practical/ Hardware technology:
Nickon D30200
This was a camera owned by the media department of my school, I decided to use this rather than my personal camera as it is of better quality and more credible, capturing images in high definition. I used this for all images featured on all pages: cover, contents and double page spread. As this camera was not my own, I had never used it before and was not familiar with all it's functions so during the test shots I was unable to use the camera's specialist features to my advantage- achieving images of a respectable standard but I felt there was room for improvement in shots and angles of images. I was then more confident when using the camera for a second time in a different shoot with my models, learning skills and appropriate settings after my first attempt (zoom, angling, flash, etc.)
Artificial Lighting
I used two soft lighting boxes when photographing the models in the AVS studio at school. This created a perfect level of brightness for the images to ensure the focus was on the model and the image itself rather; without the lighting the image would appear unprofessional and unattractive to the audience as it could be seen as something 'ordinary' and 'boring'. The lighting emphasises expressions and contributes towards achieving a flawless image.
Tri-pod
This was used to stand the camera on when photographing models in the photography stages, it stabilised the camera and allowed a level position achieving a professional and well balanced looking image. Without this piece of equipment, images may have appeared unprofessional and disorientating for the reader as angles and shots would not be on one level and appear unattractive as a result.
White screen back ground
A professional look was created through the use of this piece of equipment as the screen was placed behind the models, achieving a simplistic look and avoiding the appearance of untidy mise-en-scene shown in the shot. This is regularly used by magazines as it is attractive and ensures the audience's attention is drawn to the important contentions of the magazine such as cover lines, image and masthead. This allowed images to be featured effectively on the page and other aspects of the magazine stand out appealing to the audience and encouraging interest and sales.
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