Front Cover Analysis

"Discover great music" Quote from Interview.
powerful image- looking staright at audience, close up.
Sub-stories
Colour scheme-Red, Blue and white, used in most of their magazines continous
White Q on red background stands out
conventions such as barcode+ price +date of issue
bad language- relaxed unformal approach
New Column- Zane lowe- influence name, interestes people pursuades them to buy magazine to see what it offers.
GIG in capitals and large font, grabs your attention, attracts target audience who are interested in gig's and the artists that play them.
"meet the new simon cowell" influencial music person "new" people want to know what's coming.
"woman on the edge" dramatic, pursuative makes you want to read it to find everything out.
Make up- eye make up goes with colour scheme, pale skin-typical english rose, represents true english spirit of magazine, dark nails- Indie look.

"2011 reviewed"
Background colours- Mylo Xyloto colours promoting album attracting coldplay fans.
Colour scheme- traditional colour scheme- red and white.
With hint of yellow stands out on Mylo Xyloto background.
chris martin- front man looks quite relaxed- dressed in same outfit as he wears in Mylo Xyloto performances.
Red watch- matches red background on magazine name, connects picture to magazine.
50 albums of the year- reviews the year, 50 your getting lots for your money- in large font stands out attracts you from other magazines makes you want to buy it.
12 hot new artists we love- encourages you to buy the magazine to find out these new artists who would possiably break through in 2012
list of artists at the bottom- big mainstream artists-attracts readers sub stories
Arm through Q attracts you towards image, links them together because no direct eye contact and not many links between artist and magazine.
" The secrets of Coldplay" sounds like your finding out inside information, pursuasive, makes you want to buy magazine.
Coldplay underlined- makes it stand out, attracts audience, attracts fans.
Barcode+ price+ date of issue- typical codes and conventions of a professional magazine.

Plain basic background- attracts you to artist.
Sub stories- Liam, Keith and U2 written in large font- stand out, attracts your attention.
Make up very natural- english rose? true english feel of magazine, natural talent.
simple colour scheme- sticking to four colours red, white, black and gold.
Recognisable name/logo of magazine
face overlapping the Q shows how important Adele is, she's being used to sell magazine and attract readers.
Huge artist, recognisable, huge fan base, following- sell magazines.
 "If you've got it, Flaunt it..." quote from interview gives reader taster into interview makes them interested, want to read on.
"Blows us away" dramatic, makes you want to know why
Barcode- codes and conventions of a real, professional magazine.
Each sub story has small summary into interview makes audience interested want to read on.

NME aims to offer the lastest news about indie music. Therefore it has special codes and conventions which reflect this type of music and their aim.
The Vaccines are making direct eye contact with the audience except one which adds a bit of quirkyness and makes it look different compared to all four doing the same pose. They are each in a equal position, showing a share in power and say in the band. The two heads to the left are overlapping the NME suggesting that The Vaccines are the main selling point of the magazine, and the name isnt that important, however loyal customers will still be able to recognise the well known name, shape and font that is repeatively used in order to keep a continuous factor which makes the magazine noticeable and recognisable.

Week 1 Diary

During the first week of our media project we were set the task of completing a school magazine, this magazine had to be to a strong standard, following the typical codes and conventions that school magazines used. Therefore in order for me to be able to complete the project to the best of my ability I had to coduct some research into the codes and conventions used in school magazines.

I used three school magazines to analyse. Looking at the types of camera angles, pictures, stories and layouts they used so I could decide on the best things that will be sutiable for my magazine. The task of completing the school magazine research allowed me to realise how much time analysis of music magazines would take and also what types of things to look out for, allowing me to plan time and be aware so I could find codes and conventions quickly and easily.

Once I started putting together the school magazine, I was able to use this primilary task to find out the length of time I would need for different sections of the magazines e.g. research, planning and photography allowing me to be able to manage my time and plan a order to complete things. During the task I learned alot about the use of the SLR cameras, this allowed me to play around and understand how to use them so I could take good quality photo's for my final music magazine.

Double Page Spread- rough drawing

This is the layout of my double page spread, I want the image to be located near a brick wall but hopefully the picture will be better than my drawing. I want my model to look quite arrogant and self-assured.I want to have a smaller image on the right hand side of the page so that the two pages look linked and connected, however this image needs to be smaller so it doesn't take up too much room. I want to follow typical conventions that are found in Mojo and Q magazine of having three collums for my text, this give a detailed story while not looking like too much text and discouraging the reader from looking at it.

Contents page- Rough drawing

This is my rough drawing of my contents page. I want the page to have a blocky layout with all the stories on the left and the drawings on the right. Your eye imediatly gets pulled to the stories and the images and it is easy to find the story and the page you need. The main story is the largest image with the largest description this was a convention used quite often in NME's contents pages.

1st photoshoot- 22nd of Febuary

During this photoshoot I really wanted to get across a fun atmosphere, while still portraying a serious music image. I thought a good way of doing this would be to get my model dancing, these pictures could be really good for my double page spread where I could have three images behind each other one serious long shot showing the serious to music approach, but then two images behind of her dancing showing her fun personality which she is trying to get accross in her music.

However after looking at these photos I decided that the model wasn't right, she didn't look greatly comfortable. I was also dissapointed with the mise en scene, as I felt it didn't look very sutiable for a music magazine, I decided that I needed to go away and change my model and plan my images fully before taking them.
Also the quality of my camera skills is weak therefore I am planning to take practice shots before taking my next set of images so I can make sure the positioning, lighting, focus and zoom is all correct this would then enable me to get good quality photos before I begin getting serious poses from my model so I don't miss good poses because of my weak skill.

Evaluation of School magazine

From the research of school magazine I noticed many codes and conventions that are used in most school magazines, therefore I decided for my magazine to look presentable and professional, I would have to use certain conventions.

While deciding on the design for my front page I decided I would need a large mid shot of a student for the front cover, this convention was used on a few existing school magazines it allows a main story to be shown, it also allows the audience a insight into the school. I also used smaller images on my front page to show sub stories that are present in my magazine, this convention was used in Bishopbriggs Academy Magazine which shows two images of a sports team and a school skiing trip.

For my contents page I used Fusion magazine as inspiration their contents page grabs your attention by using images and bright colours, it looks interesting this makes you want to read it. It also has a good layout with everything being aligned and organised, I have used different colours for different stories in my magazine this keeps them obviously separate and together with their page number, it also makes it look interesting and colourful. I have also tried to incorporate the appropriate images with the story to make it look more interesting for the audience.

During the process of making my School Magazine I have learned many new skills including how to use technologies such as photoshop and also how to take a good image on a SLR camera. During taking my images I came across problems with the lighting and shadows, however after learning more about lighting I now understand the advantages and disadvantages of using natural and artificial light, therefore for my music magazine I can plan ahead with the time I take the pictures, where and what light I will use to suit the situation.  

Initial Ideas

Research into the different conventions used in different school magazine

In the different school magazines, many different conventions are used to create a certain effect for the magazine. 

In the Bishopbriggs Academy magazine the school logo is shown just below the school name, it is quite a traditional looking crest, which includes four main colours; the name is included in the logo allowing the logo to be linked to the school. The logo includes three words; Educating, Inspiring, Empowering which the school believes in, this again backs up the point about the school being a traditional school, most modern schools believe in students having fun and enjoyment while learning, however a lot of traditional schools are known to want their pupils to be focused on learing.

Although this point is contradicted by the point that Bishopbriggs Academy uses pictures of school acheivements on the front page of their magazine, this shows extra curricula tasks which take place in the school, showing that the school is not just focused on education, it actually gives the pupils opportunities for learning further skills such as, football and skiing. These pictures are master shots and show all the pupils involved, and the settings they are in. I will use this in my magazine because it shows a insight of the school and the going's on. It also shows opportunities that occur in the school and acheivements that the school have acheived. This attracts pupils to look at the magazine to see if they recognise the teachers or pupils. I might use pictures like this in my magazine because they show the school in a possitive light, and show that the school is about more than just education and learning. I will get pictures like this into my magazine by showing school extra curriculum activities such as football matches/ training.       

School name in the Bishopbriggs academy is written in an easy to read font which informs the reader of the school that this magazine involves. Two different colours are used in the title a dark blue is used for “Bishopbriggs Academy”, and a grey colour is used for “The” and “magazine” this attracts the audience to the dark blue colour which gives the most important information, whereas the grey blends into the background, causing the audience just to take in Bishopbriggs Academy. The name is also directly central at the top of the page, so it stands out. I will also use this in my magazine because the title being in the center  allows it to have a good layout and stand out, it also allows the title to stand out and for the audience to take in the school name.

Throughout school magazines there is a set theme which runs through from the front page to the contents page, this allows the school magazine to look continuous, smart and professional. The running theme also keeps the same colours running through the magazine allowing it to stand out and be easy to read while catching the audiences attention. The magazine uses plain and simple colours which are easy to read but the writing stands out.  I will include this convention into my school magazine because it looks professional and smart, I will do this by deciding on a specific theme before I start my magazine, I will need to make sure the colours are easy to read but still eye catching, they will need to be neutral and possiably primary colours.

The contents page uses a plain white background, with bright colourful colours for each title of the pages, this attracts the audiences attention, and also keeps it looking colourful and fun. The colours used are colours which you relate to children and would expect to see in a childrens picture book, this makes the reader make the connection of the colours with children. As the page numbers are also the same colours as the title of the pages the reader can link the page numbers with the title of the page. I will use this in my magazine contents page because it adds colour and fun to the magazine, it also attracts children to the contents page due to the bright colours. The colours are easy to read due to them being simple colours, however they still stand out.

The contents page also informs the reader of the next issue that is available this makes them aware that the magazine is continuous, and makes them realise when the next issue is available so they can remember to get it and read it. This keeps them aware and informed about what is happening in the school, and recent events and news that has taken place.

          
In Fusion magazine in their contents page they use a small description underneath each page number, this allows the reader to decide which story they would like to read. This allows the reader to skip to the story which interests them. I will not be doing this in my magazine but I will be using small photos which link to the story on that specific page, I have decided to do this because it makes the contents page more interesting and keeps the audience interested, it also makes the contents page more visually stimulating, it also allows the reader to see more things which go on in the school. 
 

School magazine 06/02/12

My School magazine uses many main codes and conventions that existing magazines use on my front cover I have used a medium close up of a pupil looking happy as my main background picture, many existing magazines also use happy looking photos of pupils on their front cover due to the good impression it gives of the school, Fusion is one magazine which does this. Another convention I use on my front page is smaller sub stories this keeps the audience interested and shows them what else is also in the magazine,Bishopbriggs Academy is one example which does this they show pictures of trips and extra curricular activities that take place in the school , I have also done this by showing a picture of the Romeo and Juliet production which is taking place in school, this allows the readers to see the other opportunities which take place inside school. 

In my Contents page I have used a similar convention to Fusion magazine by keeping the background a plain and simple colour of white, but using colours in my text, this allows it to be easy to read and attract the reader to the sub stories. 

During the process of producing a school magazine I have learnt about technologies such as how to take a medium close up, when I first started this magazine I had little experience with using technologies such as photoshop. Due to this I feel that due to producing this magazine I have gained many skills and experience. While producing this magazine I used photoshop to get my pictures the correct size, I also learnt about using the camera so I can take a good quality picture which is correct for the genre.