Evaluation: Q1) In what ways does your media product use , develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Evaluations Draft

 

Photoshoot behind the scenes 2

Production log 29/01/14

Production log 28/01/14

Today in class, we started the magazine presentations where people from my media class would go to the front of the classroom and present their magazine following what they have done, how they have done it and why as well as referring to the genre and audience for their specific magazine. Prior to the presentations, I created an audience feedback survey using the programme Survey Monkey where I constructed a list of questions relating to my magazine. This involved multiple choice questions such as ‘Which element(s) on the front cover of my magazine, do you find most appealing?’ and  closed questions including ‘Looking at the double page spreads, do you believe the layout of the pages are clear and easy to read?’.  Although, I presented this online I also printed out paper-copy questions so other students in my class could easily fill out the survey while watching my magazine presentation. I found the presentations to be really useful as we helped one and another by suggesting different improvements they could make to alter the quality of their magazine.  Unfortunately, during the double lesson we had run out of time, resulting in me not showing my presentation.

After school, I continued to work on my evaluation questions as the deadline is next Friday. Before starting my second evaluation I went on to the Haydon Media website and found a list of the different requirements we were advised to include in each question. As I went along I highlighted the different requirements to make sure I had definitely included them in my answer. I decided to write the evaluations in word as I was running out of time and therefore did not have time to change this to a mixed media format. I will definitely consider changing this in the next few weeks.

Audience Feedback Survery

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Contact Sheet 2

 

Production log 27/01/14

 

Today after school I went to Ruislip woods with my model Sophie for my second photo shoot. After looking at different image ideas I thought this would be a great location to take photos as I initially wanted to create a diverse between my work and include images taken outside. Furthermore, I thought the nature effect followed by the shadows created by the leaves of the tree would enable me to picture good quality photos. At the beginning of the shoot I found myself very limited with the different poses I could get my model to do as the weather was really bad resulting in the woods to be full of mud and dirt.   It was also raining which consequently slowed down the process of my photo shoot as I would fix the model’s hair every few minutes. I also changed the angles of the camera to take a selection of different pictures ranging from long shots to mid shots and close up shots to low angle shots. I thought the differentiation of shots would help create a variety within my work and improve the quality of my pictures. I also took photos inside with my model positioned against a plain, white wall. However, the lighting was too bright resulting in my photos to not be as good quality. I will therefore re-think about including these images in my final magazine.   

Production log 21/01/14

 

The video above shows the different parts of the front cover for my magazine. As you can see, I have included my masthead at the top followed by the caption ‘The Music Magazine’, which is important as it shows readers who may be unfamiliar with my magazine what my magazine is called. I have placed the sell lines either side of the model's head to make the layout of my front cover look more organised and structured. The sell lines featured on the front cover have been written in different fonts and sizes to make the page look more creative and appealing to read. The main sell line '3 words Alexandra Flume rocks' has been further enlarged to show readers that this is the main artist conveyed in my magazine. I have also separated the text into three sections with three different fonts to make the sell line stand out and bring the readers attention here first. At the bottom of the page I have also included the magazine's bar code as they is a key convention of any magazine. I was also instructed by my peers to include this feature in my audience feedback videos as I mistakenly forgotten to include this in my first draft.

Production log 20/01/14

 

This is a animated version  describing what improvements I made to my magazine for homework.The written version of this production log can be found below: 

At home I continued to improve and add further details to my magazine as the deadline for my media presentation is next Tuesday.  I focused primarily on the front cover of my magazine as I thought this was the most important area I needed to improve.  Following feedback from two of my peers evaluating the first draft of my magazine I made changes to the front cover including me adding more sell lines to make the page look interesting and busy as well as a plug and barcode to follow the typical conventions of a music magazine. I believe these changes have helped to enhance the quality of my magazine as the font cover of my magazine now looks eye-catching and appealing, adding to the professional feel.

Second Final Image

After improving the layout of my cover page for my magazine, I believed it was necessary to change the front cover image to suit the layout and style. Firstly, I looked back at my chosen images ideas and picked an image that was really close up.  I believe the angle of this picture will suit the layout of my magazine as I will be able to use the model's hair to place my sell lines. The close up shot will also persuade readers to buy my magazine as the closeness of the picture will help my magazine to stand out amongst other magazines on shelves at local shops.  Moreover, I decided to use this picture as her pose is really striking and sexual which shadows the theory of Laura Mulvey.  I edited the picture using the programme Photoshop to make the model's features stand out. I found the burn tool to be very helpful as the tool made my image appear darker resulting in the model's features to look more bold and interesting. I applied this took to the eyes to emphasise on the smoky eye look and her lips to make the red look more bold and powerful. I also used the healing brush tool which helped me to produce a smooth effect as I used this tool on the model's face to cover crease lines and marks. I believe this improvements suit my target audience as men are stereotypically attracted by beauty and will therefore feel persuaded to buy my magazine.

Possible front cover images

Production log 16/01/14

 

Today during my free lessons at school I decided to create a barcode for my magazine in the programme Photoshop. For the first draft of my magazine I had forgotten to include a barcode on the front cover of my magazine which was picked up my peers after I received feedback.  I firstly copied a picture of a barcode from the internet and imported it in to the programme Photoshop. I then used the square tool and drew a square around the selected image. I also used the text tool and included the date, website and price for my specific magazine. I believe these improvements have helped enhance the quality of my magazine as this is seen to be a typical convention of music magazines.

Feeback on first magazine draft

 

Magazine draft

 

Production log 08/01/14

This is a video version  describing what I worked on during today's lesson. The written version of this project log can be found below:

Today in my single lesson, I continued to edit pictures for the contents page of my magazine. After my friend kindly offered me a picture from his photo shoot I decided to edit the picture using Photoshop to make it look different from the original image. It was important to ask my friend for permission as if I has used the image without his consent I would have broken copyright laws. I began editing the photo by changing the colour of the image to black and white and then changing the filter to violet. After this was complete, I increased the density to a considerable amount till I was happy with the overall colour of the image. To finish, I cropped the image down so the background behind was not showing. This also helped to draw the reader in and focus on one particular subject of the image. The edited photo is shown above.